Kerry Says Russia Proposes Military Talks On Syria

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

Wed Sep 16, 2015 4:13pm EDT

The Obama administration said Wednesday is was considering how to respond to a Russian proposal for military talks over Syria, where Moscow is expanding its forces even as U.S. warplanes conduct daily air strikes against Islamist militants.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he was talking to the White House and Pentagon about the Kremlin proposal, which was made during phone calls with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in recent days.

Kerry did not offer details of the proposal but suggested it was about deconfliction - ensuring that U.S. and Russian aircraft do not come into conflict with each other in Syria.

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"The Russians proposed ... that we have military-to-military conversation ... to discuss what precisely what will be done to deconflict with respect to any potential risks that might be run and to have a complete and clear understanding as to the road ahead and what the intentions are," Kerry told reporters.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/16/us-syria-crisis-kerry-idUSKCN0RG2CJ20150916

[bemildred]

1. Seeking Syria clarity, US set to join Russia military talks

WASHINGTON

Amid increasing unease and uncertainty over Russia's intentions, the Obama administration plans to accept an offer from Russia for direct talks on its military buildup in Syria that U.S. officials believe is aimed at propping up Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Seeking answers to myriad questions about the precise reasoning behind Moscow's recent deliveries of materiel and manpower to a base in northern Syria, U.S. officials said they expect the administration to begin a military-to-military dialogue with Russia in the coming days. The Pentagon will take the lead in the discussions but the exact level, venue and timing have yet to be determined, officials said.

Those details could be announced as early as Wednesday, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Secretary of State John Kerry revealed the Russian offer for talks when he told reporters on Wednesday that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had proposed them in a phone call a day earlier. Kerry said he personally thought the idea was a good one, but stressed that the administration was still weighing its merits. Other officials said later that national security adviser Susan Rice had signed off on the talks and that Defense Secretary Ash Carter had agreed.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article35415861.html