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A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 12 april 2017

G-7 ministers appeal to Russia on Syria but reject sanctions

JILL LAWLESS supporter President Vladi-
COLLEEN BARRY mir Putin.
Associated Press After the chemical attack,
LUCCA, Italy (AP) — The Trump said his attitude to-
Group of Seven industrial- ward Assad “has changed
ized nations on Tuesday very much” and Tillerson
urged Russia to pressure said “steps are underway”
the Syrian government to to organize a coalition to
end the six-year civil war, remove him from power.
but rejected a British call to But Tillerson also said that
impose new sanctions on the top U.S. priority in the
Moscow over its support of region remains the defeat
President Bashar Assad. of Islamic State militants.
Foreign ministers from the On Monday Tillerson raised
seven countries said Mos- fresh expectations for ag-
cow must change its at- gressive U.S. action — and
titude to Assad if there is not only in Syria — as he vis-
to be hope of ending the ited the site of a World War
brutal conflict that has de- II Nazi massacre in central
stabilized the Middle East, Italy, saying the U.S. would
driven millions to escape hold to account “all who
Syria and further frayed re- commit crimes against the
lations between the West innocents anywhere in the
and Russia. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano speaks at the end of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of world.”
“Russia can be a part of the G7 in Lucca, Italy, Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven industrial- Though such comments
that future and play an im- ized nations are expected to call for a new international push to end the war in Syria as they end hint at a more activist U.S.
a meeting in Italy Tuesday.
portant role,” U.S. Secretary (Riccardo Dalle Luche/Pool photo via AP) foreign policy focused on
of State Rex Tillerson said. with Syria, and Moscow. press Moscow to end mili- many, France, Britain, Can- preventing humanitarian
Or, he added, it could atrocities, Trump’s adminis-
maintain its alliance with Italian Foreign Minister An- tary support for the “toxic” ada, Japan and current tration has generally down-
president Italy, as well as
gelino Alfano, who hosted Assad government. U.S. of-
Syria, Iran and militant played human rights con-
group Hezbollah, “which the G-7 gathering, said ficials in Washington have the U.S. — are also trying cerns while promoting an
to grasp what the U.S. ad-
“there is no consensus for also raised that prospect.
we believe is not going to “America First” strategy de-
serve Russia’s interests’ lon- further new sanctions.” Others argued for a more ministration’s foreign policy emphasizing the concerns
“We must have a dialogue conciliatory
approach. is, amid conflicting signals
ger term.” of foreign nations.
Tillerson flew straight from with Russia,” he said. “We German Foreign Minister from Washington. Uncertainty about objec-
must not push Russia into a Sigmar Gabriel said Russia, Tillerson’s trip comes after
the summit in Italy to Mos- tives persisted as Tillerson
cow, carrying the G-7’s corner.” and Assad ally Iran, must an American official said met Tuesday on the side-
Instead of sanctions, the be involved in any peace the U.S. has drawn a pre-
strong desire for a new start lines of the Lucca meeting
in Syria, but few concrete meeting’s final communi- process to end Syria’s six- liminary conclusion that with diplomats from “like-
que called for an investiga-
year civil war.
Russia knew in advance of
proposals to make it hap- minded” countries on Syria,
pen. tion by the Organization for “Not everyone may like it, the chemical attack — an including Turkey, Jordan,
but without Moscow and allegation that heightens
the Prohibition of Chemi-
The G-7 blames Assad’s Saudi Arabia and the Unit-
military for a deadly chemi- cal Weapons to determine without Tehran there will already acute tensions ed Arab Emirates as well as
who was responsible for be no solution for Syria,” he between Washington and
cal attack last week that G-7 members.
killed more than 80 people. the “war crime.” The U.S. said. Moscow. The U.S. hopes the regional
and Britain say there is little Johnson put a positive spin Until Trump ordered U.S.
Ministers meeting in the countries can help ensure
walled Tuscan city of Lucca doubt Assad’s forces are on the outcome, saying missile strikes in response security and stability in Syr-
there could still be sanc-
to the April 4 nerve gas at-
culpable.
strongly supported U.S. mis- ia after the Islamic State
sile strikes that targeted a The group’s stance was a tions on Russian military of- tack, the president had group is defeated.
ficers if an independent in-
focused on defeating the
rebuff to British Foreign Sec-
Syrian air base believed to The G-7 members broadly
have been used to launch retary Boris Johnson, who vestigation into the chemi- Islamic State group and agree that Assad should
had shown no appetite for
said Monday the G-7 was cal attack identifies perpe-
the attack. But they were go — but not necessarily
divided about how to deal considering new sanctions trators. challenging Assad — and, when, or how. q
on Russian military figures to The G-7 members — Ger- by extension, his Russian