Page 3 - ATD 07 October,2015
P. 3
U.S. NEWS A3
Wednesday 7 October 2015
Russia, US plan another talk
to avoid air conflicts in Syria
LOLITA C. BALDOR ders Syria. Carter said the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New
Associated Press U.S. has been waiting for York. Russia has informed the United States that Moscow is willing to continue talks to ensure that
NAVAL AIR STATION SIGO- a second meeting on how the two countries’ aircraft don’t interfere with each other over Syria, senior U.S. military officials
NELLA, Italy (AP) — Russia to avoid any accidents or said Tuesday.
has informed the United miscalculations in the in-
States that Moscow is will- creasingly crowded skies (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
ing to continue talks to over Syria.
ensure that the two coun- Turkey, a NATO member, Russia getting drawn into a moderate Syrian rebels and received promises of
tries’ aircraft don’t interfere mentioned only one Rus- shooting war in the event who have been trained U.S. air support if they are
with each other over Syria, sian intrusion over the that Russian warplanes hit and equipped by the U.S. attacked.q
senior U.S. military officials weekend, but the military
said Tuesday. alliance said a second Rus-
But a Russian defense offi- sian jet also violated Turkish
cial said the talks should be airspace Sunday. The air-
much broader than what space violations triggered
the Pentagon is seeking. immediate outrage from
Pentagon spokesman Pe- the alliance.
ter Cook said a response to
the Pentagon’s request for Russia insisted the first in-
talks came through the U.S. cursion was a mistake and
Embassy in Moscow and says it had nothing to do
reached U.S. Defense Sec- with the second one.
retary Ash Carter while he Carter and other NATO de-
was flying from Moron Air fense ministers are expect-
Base in Spain to Sigonella, ed to discuss how to deal
Italy. with the problem when
“We look forward to the they meet in Brussels later
formal response from the this week.
Russians and learning the The U.S.-led coalition has
details,” Cooke said. “We been routinely conducting
stand ready to meet again airstrikes on Islamic State
to continue our earlier dis- militants in Syria.
cussion as soon as pos- Russia says the airstrikes it
sible.” began last week are di-
Earlier Tuesday, Carter had rected against the Islamic
called on Russian leaders State group, as well as al-
to contact the Pentagon Qaida’s Syrian affiliates.
immediately to discuss But the U.S. and France
Moscow’s military activities say at least some of the
in Syria, reflecting urgent strikes appear to have hit
concerns about Russian Western-backed rebel fac-
aircraft violating Turkish air- tions fighting government
space. NATO on Monday troops, with the real goal of
denounced Russia for “ir- protecting Syrian President
responsible behavior” for Bashar Assad.
allowing its warplanes to U.S. officials have been
cross into Turkey. critical of Russia’s entrance
Russian Deputy Defense into the Syrian conflict and
Minister Anatoly Antonov Carter said the latest issues
said the Russians want will cause the U.S. to fur-
broad discussions on inter- ther strengthen its posture
national cooperation be- against Moscow.
tween Russia and the U.S.- During the videoconfer-
led coalition fighting the ence with the Russians on
Islamic State. Thursday, Elissa Slotkin, who
“Regrettably, the Ameri- represented the U.S. side,
cans would like to limit our raised concerns about the
cooperation to technical Russian airstrikes targeting
issues relating to interaction areas where there are few
between our pilots while on if any Islamic State militants
relevant missions,” Antonov operating. Slotkin is the
said Tuesday. acting assistant secretary
“The Americans have of defense for international
handed us a document, security affairs.
on which we are working,” The meeting was aimed at
he said. making sure there are no
U.S. and Russian officials conflicts, collisions or other
met once by video confer- problems as the U.S.-led co-
ence late last week, before alition and the Russians fly
the incursion into the air- over Syria. A key concern is
space of Turkey, which bor- the prospect of the U.S. and
