Lavrov says U.S. should cooperate with Syria’s Assad against ISAugust 10, 2015 - 15:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States should cooperate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to fight Islamic State and that this required an international coalition uniting all those for whom the jihadists are "a common enemy,” Reuters reports. Washington currently heads a coalition conducting air strikes on Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and is cooperating with Turkey to provide air cover for rebels inside Syria. But Moscow has criticized the United States for not working in sync with Syria, an ally of Russia. In comments to Russia's state TV published by his ministry on Sunday, Aug 9, Lavrov recounted two meetings with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry amid the recent intensified high-level diplomatic contacts over Syria and fighting the Sunni jihadis. "Our American partners and some countries in the region persistently refuse to recognize Assad as a partner, which is rather strange," Lavrov said. "Assad was a fully legitimate partner in destroying chemical arms but somehow he is not in fighting terrorism," he said, referring to a chemical disarmament deal brokered by Moscow and Washington earlier in the conflict. Lavrov is due to discuss Syria and Islamic State with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Moscow on Tuesday, August 11. The two will also discuss "closer coordination on global energy markets", the Russian ministry said, according to Reuters. The Russia-proposed coalition, Lavrov said, would "bring together all those already fighting on the ground" who oppose Islamic State. He named the Syrian and Iraqi armies, the Kurds and "the part of the armed opposition that represents Syrians." "Instead of settling their scores between one another, first one must deal with the common threat, and then seek to agree on how to live in their own country," Lavrov said. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |