Kurdistan24
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday accused the US government of attempting to create a “pseudo-government” in northern Syria.
"Meanwhile, the northeast of Syria remains under de facto control of the US military who continue to flirt with local armed groups, buying their loyalty with arms deliveries. Thus a process is in full swing in the Trans-Euphrates area of establishing pseudo-government structures which are not legitimate under Syrian law,” she said.
The US announced on Aug. 17 that it had secured $300 million from coalition partners for Syrian stabilization initiatives, including Saudi Arabia, and that it would redirect $230 million in frozen funds originally intended for Syria to other priorities.
So, 530 Million dollars (more then half a billion) and all those weapons/equipment shipments:
Zakharova characterized US stabilization programs in Syria as “funding anti-government structures” and said the US had “shifted the responsibility on their allies.”
“Now using money from the other members of the Washington-led coalition – Europeans and Arabs – the United States embarked on restoring and upgrading oil-producing infrastructure in the northeast of Syria and essentially began plundering Syria’s national wealth,” Zakharova said, accusing the US of violating Syria’s sovereignty, despite previous pledges that it supports the unity of Syria.
“We would like to understand how that stance corresponds to our partners’ practical steps that we are observing on Syrian territory,” she added.
Timur Akhmetov, a researcher at the Russian International Affairs Council, told Kurdistan 24, “Obviously, Russia is not happy with US reinforcing its presence in Syria, because this may give the Kurds the impression that Americans are there to stay and therefore let them be less cooperative with Damascus.”
Recently, Kurdish groups in Syria have been holding talks with Damascus to reach a solution to the national crisis.
Timur Akhmetov, “I suppose that Russia may have wanted to reach an understanding with US that it would not stay for a long period of time in Syria. To build a trust with US, Russia may propose some new arrangements or cooperation over reconstruction and demining of major settlements under PYD (Democratic Union Party) control, Iranian presence along the Israeli border, or fight against IS in eastern Syria,”
In the past, Syrian Kurds maintained positive relations with both Russia and the US, Farhad Patiev, Co-Chairman of the Federal National-Cultural Autonomy of Kurds in Russia, told Kurdistan 24.
“But the Kurds refused to choose between them, understanding the need for equal involvement of Russia and the United States in resolving the Syrian crisis,” he said.
But since Russia supported a Turkish offensive on the Kurdish town of Afrin in January, relations between the Kurds and Russia have been strained.
“Afrin pushed the Kurds towards one [the US], and pushed him away from the other,” he said.
Russia also remained silent over Turkey’s control of other areas in northern Syria.
“The United States represents a greater long-term threat to Russia than Turkey. Russia has managed its competition with Turkey over hundreds of years,” Nicholas A. Heras, a Middle East security analyst at the Washington-based Center for a New American Security, told Kurdistan 24.
“A Turkish protectorate in northern Syria is a nuisance to Russia, but not a mortal threat. Moscow's nightmare is an American commitment to staying in Syria, which is a wild card that Russian planning did not anticipate.”
The American presidential envoy to the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS), Brett McGurk, said last week that the US would not be leaving Syria any time soon. "We’re remaining in Syria. The focus is the enduring defeat of ISIS,” he said. Moreover, he stated that, after the territorial defeat of IS, the US would continue to support the training of local forces.
Just want to share some discourse from elsewhere:
I recommend Syrian Perspective with reservations. Ziad is great. As are a few of the commenters.
But many others there are certainly cause for concern.
Below is an exchange of comments between myself and two particular thinking persons.
I also thank flopot and and Alex in North Carolina for sharing their ideas and concerns with me.
A reasonable exchange is always welcomed. :)
falcemartello- I am not surprised in the least by this news
.Not quite sure why you’d think I was?
This is more then an occupation- This is an annexation with an eye to
remake the region. I’ve written about it for the last 7 years. Starting
with Syria in 2011 and expanding, while delving ever deeper into the
wider aspects involving Iran, Turkey and the blocking of the Silk Road-
How the aspired for Greater Kurdistan impedes/coordinates Assad’s 4 seas
strategy. How the Greater Kurdistan project lines up with Greater
Israel- And yes there are significant numbers of the Kurdish people who
would agree with what you’ve said The Kurds are the new proxy takfiris. Its like a rebranding winter catalogue.
Including the many who’ve had their children kidnapped by the PKK cult
freaks of terror. Including the Turkish kurds who vote and align
themselves with AKP in Turkey and find their family members murdered
horrifically and the PKK acknowledges they did the deed.
Yes, the whole Kurdish meme-ology reminds me of the one that surrounds
the creation of Israel- Poor people without a land, who need a land
blah, blah, blah- Meanwhile the reality is very similar. Israel was
created by terrorism and terrorists spilling the blood of the residents
and the Kurdish terrorists play the same role- spill the blood of
residents while the always lying alt and msm presents them as the
eternal victims-
or the great heros- just like the jews- eternal victims/eternally
wronged needed these wrongs to be righted- I’ve heard and read it all
before
Wash, rinse, repeat.
As to your uno, due, tre… quatrro, cinque etc. (My father came from
Italy after WW2- mom is Canadian we spoke more english then Italian –
but I do know some) I agree that the West will be rebuilt- that is
already looking to be occurring- yes the Saudis will funnel some of
their own money and much American money through to the PKK.
I’m hoping the people will rise up and rid themselves of the scourge,
but, not as confident of that as you may be..The people will be
extorted, subjugated constantly—
In Italy which is occupied I’ve yet to see the people arise (occasional
protests, sure) – Same in Germany ( never notice any protesting), Japan
( protests) War wears people down.
They lose their will to fight. I’ve heard about Italy after the war. It was ugly.
Thanks for the nice response
