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U.S. NEWS Saturday 8 July 2017

US, Russia announce Syria cease Trump meets Putin:
fire after Trump - Putin meeting Talk of positive results after historic meet

By J. LEDERMAN, V. SALAMA, K. THOMAS By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Trump offered no details Jr., took to Twitter to say
Associated Press KEN THOMAS about what issues he and the noise from the cam-
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — The United States and Associated Press the Russian leader had dis- eras made it difficult to
Russia struck an agreement Friday on a cease-fire in HAMBURG, Germany (AP) cussed, describing them even hear the two leaders’
southwest Syria, crowning President Donald Trump’s — At long last face to only as “various things.” words.
first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is face, President Donald Putin was similarly vague, “How many pictures do you
the first U.S.-Russian effort under Trump’s presidency to Trump and Russian Presi- telling reporters through a need of the same scene?”
stem Syria’s six-year civil war. dent Vladimir Putin voiced translator that they were he said.
The cease-fire goes into effect Sunday at noon Da- confidence Friday that discussing international The heavily anticipated
mascus time, according to U.S. officials and the Jor- their historic first meeting problems and bilateral is- meeting is being closely
danian government, which is also involved in the deal. would pave the way for a sues. Still, Putin described scrutinized for signs of how
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who accompanied
Trump in his meeting with Putin, said the understanding
is designed to reduce violence in an area of Syria near
Jordan’s border that is critical to the U.S. ally’s security.
It’s a “very complicated part of the Syrian battlefield,”
Tillerson told reporters after the U.S. and Russian leaders
met for more than 2 hours on the sidelines of a global
summit in Hamburg, Germany.
Of the agreement, he said, “I think this is our first indica-
tion of the U.S. and Russia being able to work together
in Syria.”
For years, the former Cold War foes have been back-
ing opposing sides in Syria’s war. Moscow has staunchly
backed Syrian President Bashar Assad, supporting Syr-
ian forces militarily since 2015. Washington has backed
rebels fighting Assad. Both the U.S. and Russia oppose
Islamic State militants and say they’re focused on root-
ing out the extremist group.
The potential pitfalls for the cease-fire are clear — not
least the challenge of enforcing it.
Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russian mili-
tary police would monitor the new truce. But Tillerson
said that was still being worked out. A senior U.S. State
Department official said the two countries were close
to a deal on that issue and hoped to finalize it in the
coming days, raising the prospect it could take effect President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, Friday, July
7, 2017, in Hamburg.
Sunday with no clear sense of who is policing it. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
That the deal was announced before all the details
were ironed out was a clear indication of how ea- positive trajectory for their the fact that they were friendly a rapport Trump
ger the U.S. and Russia were to cast their leaders’ first two countries. If thornier meeting as a positive sign and Putin will have. Trump’s
meeting as a success. Officials said the deal had been issues like election med- in itself, and he said he predecessor, President
in the works for weeks or months, but came together in dling came up in their hoped the meeting would Barack Obama, had noto-
time for the meeting. two-hours-plus meeting, “yield positive results.” riously strained ties to Putin,
The deal marks a new level of involvement for the they discussed them only “Phone conversations are and Trump has expressed
Trump administration in trying to resolve Syria’s civil in private. In characteris- never enough definitely,” an interest in a better U.S.-
war. Trump ordered some 60 cruise missiles to be fired tically confident fashion, Putin said. “If you want to Russia relationship.
at a Syrian air base in April after accusing Assad’s forc- Trump said he and the Rus- have a positive outcome But deep skepticism about
es of a deadly chemical weapons attack. But his top sian leader were holding in bilaterals and be able to Russia in the U.S. and on-
military and national security advisers pointedly said “very, very good talks” as resolve most international going investigations into
they had no intentions of intervening to oust Assad. journalists were briefly al- policy issues, that will really whether Trump’s cam-
And they stopped short of endorsing Russian-led or lowed in to witness part of need personal meetings.” paign coordinated with
U.N. peace mediation efforts between Assad’s gov- their meeting in Germany. Then the leaders shook Moscow during last year’s
ernment and rebel groups. Seated with an American hands firmly but briefly be- election have made a U.S.-
Israel also is part of the agreement, one U.S. official flag behind him, Trump ap- fore reporters were escort- Russia detente politically
said, who like others wasn’t authorized to speak pub- peared informal and re- ed out of the room. Trump risky for Trump.
licly on the matter and demanded anonymity. Like laxed and said it was “an did not respond to shouted The Putin meeting came
Jordan, Israel shares a border with the southern part honor” to be with Putin. questions about whether midway through a hec-
of Syria and has been concerned about a spillover “We look forward to a they would discuss Russia’s tic, four-day European visit
of violence as well as an amassing of Iranian-aligned lot of very positive things meddling in the U.S. elec- for Trump, who addressed
forces in the south of the country. happening for Russia, for tion — a topic lawmakers thousands of Poles in War-
Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed Mo- the United States and for in Washington have been saw, Poland, on Thursday.
mani confirmed the accord in a statement that made everybody concerned,” demanding that Trump He met in Germany with
no reference to Israel’s participation. Syrian govern- Trump said. raise directly. Chancellor Angela Merkel,
ment forces and its allies will stay on one side of an The White House said in ad- Both kept their composure the summit host, and had
agreed demarcation line, and rebel fighters will stick to vance that 35 minutes had amid the commotion of dinner with two Asian allies
the other side. The goal is also to enable aid to reach been allotted for the meet- cameras clicking and jour- — Japanese Prime Minister
this area of Syria, Momani told state media. U.S. offi- ing. But it extended well nalists lobbying questions Shinzo Abe and South Ko-
cials said the U.S., Russia and Jordan had only agreed beyond that, clocking in at as anxious aides moved rean President Moon Jae-in
on that demarcation line last week, clearing the way 2 hours and 16 minutes, the about nearby. The U.S. — to discuss North Korea’s
for a cease-fire to be worked out.q State Department said. leader’s son, Donald Trump aggression.q