Opinion: The Failure of the Kerry – Lavrov Agreement
Tariq Alhomayed for Asharq Al-Awsat (Pan-Arab, London-based newspaper)
August 1, 2016
What Kerry says and what the Europeans think is not important
What Kerry says and what the Europeans think is not important
Three events passed with unusually little interest from Syrians, which suggests that it is up to Syrians, who are the true stakeholders in preserving the unity of their country and the dignity of their people, to think of other ways to end their tragedy
Sources claim Syrian president traveled to Russian capital last month to discuss terms of a settlement between regional and international powers
Syrians see the affiliation of Nusra with Al-Qaeda as a reason for dragging woe upon the Syrian revolution and the areas in which Nusra is present
It is expected that Russia will redouble its efforts politically and militarily until the end of this year to create a situation in Syria that allows them to achieve most of their aims from the intervention
Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria responds to story in US newspaper accusing the Front of “plotting external operations against Europe and the US” as the two world powers gear up for strikes against the group
According to a seven-page draft agreement, Moscow and Washington are considering high-level coordination beyond “carrying out air defense” in Syria’s skies, to reach a level of “direct cooperation” between the two armies and their intelligence agencies against Nusra Front and ISIS
Opposition’s negotiating committee urges US and Russia to conduct a thorough review of their operation to fight terrorism in Syria
Rate of issuing passports falls from 6,000 in 2015 to 2,000 daily in Syria, according to authorities
Khaled Khoja accuses “negligent friends” of attempting to prop up the Assad regime following Turkish prime minister’s comments on social media
Has there been a change in the positions of the European Union toward the Syrian revolution following the EU delegation’s visit with Assad?
Washington has delivered a proposal to the Kremlin accepting joint military coordination in return for Russia pressuring Assad to end the bombing of moderates and restart political talks
What will change in the policies of Turkey, Israel and Russia to conform with the era of reconciliation and good relations which Ankara launched toward these two countries?
Obama has taken care to place blame for Syria’s disasters on everyone except himself while his assertion that “America is safer” is no longer true
“American administrations are famous for creating problems, but they never solve any,” Assad told the Australian SBS TV channel. The following is the full text of the interview, as published by SANA.
“After five years of conflict, our groups want a just peace, not just a peace process,” they wrote
Russia feels that the search for options for a political settlement in Syria must be accelerated because it is stuck between diverging military and political priorities with Tehran and Damascus
Top opposition figure says Syrian president must remain on for first six months during transition phase in order to avoid instability
Air strikes kill dozens of people in eastern Syria as regime and allied forces make short-lived gains against ISIS in Raqqa province
One must keep in mind that on the July 7-8 a NATO meeting will be held in Warsaw
