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Kerry To Offer Russia Greater Cooperation Against Islamic State

July 14, 2016
by RFE/RL

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Moscow for a visit in which he is expected to offer greater military cooperation against Islamic State (IS) militants in exchange for Russia and Syria starting a political transition to a new government.

Kerry was expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his two-day visit.

Syria's civil war and the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are at the top of the agenda, along with the crisis in Ukraine.

The Washington Post reported on July 13 that Kerry is carrying a major proposal from President Barack Obama regarding cooperation against IS militants and Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

"The United States is suggesting a new military command-and-control headquarters to coordinate the air campaign that would house U.S. and Russian military officers, intelligence officials, and subject-matter experts," the newspaper said.

"The proposed Joint Implementation Group would be housed near Amman, Jordan," it said.

The White House said on July 14 after Kerry's arrival in Moscow that the United States is "not coordinating military operations" with Russia, but would "welcome military contribution from Russia" that focuses on IS militants and the Al-Qaeda presence in Syria.

Kerry's attempts to persuade Russia to help establish a lasting settlement in Syria have been repeatedly frustrated. But he is trying once again "to try to resuscitate the cessation of hostilities," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on July 13.

"We have teed up ideas to the Russians" on cooperation, he added.

Kerry is answering in part Russia's long-sought request for intelligence sharing and targeting assistance for its bombing raids against IS and other extremists groups in return for Russia using its influence to end the fighting and start ushering Assad out of power.

Not all signs point to a breakthrough, however. Fighting is intensifying near Aleppo, Syria's largest city, and Assad has reasserted control over areas of the country he once lost.

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kerry -offer-russia-greater-cooperation-against-i slamic-state-al-nusra-front-al-qaeda- syria-peace-transition-assad/27857469.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.