Kerry heading to Moscow re Syria US-Russian pact

[Anthea]

Kerry heading to Moscow hoping to reach deal over US-Russian coordination in Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Moscow on Thursday to discuss Syria with Russian President Vladimir Putin and offer him an agreement, which may lead to the American and Russian militaries coordinating operations in that war-torn country.

The Obama administration has already said it would be willing to work with the Russians, especially against the Jabhat al-Nusra militant group, if Russia would in turn pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to uphold his ceasefire with armed groups in Syria backed by the Americans and begin a political transition.

Russia has offered to coordinate operations with the Americans in Syria since they intervened in the conflict last September 30, Washington refused since the Russians were aligned with the Syrian regime, which they have also refused to work with.

In remarks made at the end of June in Aspen Colorado Kerry said the administration is now hoping to “reach an understanding” with Moscow when it came to combating Nusra and Islamic State (ISIS), both of whom are excluded from the ceasefire in Syria brokered by the US and Russia last February.

Russia was always unhappy that other Islamist groups fighting the Assad regime in Syria have not been excluded by Syria, something Kerry has already hinted might be changed when he referred to these Islamist militants as “subgroups” of ISIS and Nusra.

“There are a couple of subgroups underneath the two designated — Daesh [ISIS] and Jabhat al-Nusra — Jaysh al-Islam, Ahrar al-Sham particularly — who brush off and fight with that — alongside these other two sometimes to fight the Assad regime,” Kerry said late last month. Neither group has yet been designated as terrorist organizations by the US government.

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