The Syrian city, where were the Russian musicians, is said to have been commissioned in the framework of agreements between Assad and ISIS
Vladimir Putin addresses participants of the concert in Palmyra
Valentin Baryshnikov
In Palmyra, a Syrian city recently passed from the hands of the terrorist group “Islamic state” under the control of the government army of President Bashar al-Assad, took place the concert of the Symphony orchestra of the Mariinsky theatre under Valery Gergiev.
At the concert, held on Thursday evening in the ancient amphitheater, sounded, in particular, the square dance by Rodion Shchedrin performed by cellist Sergei Roldugin, a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, caught up in the scandal pelagornithidae investigations, Roldugin called the owner of the offshore companies, who carried out the questionable transaction.
Before the performance of Russian musicians in Palmyra to him via video link asked Putin, who said he considers the concert a sign of gratitude to all who struggle with terrorism. Operation of the Syrian army in Palmyra was held with the support of Russian aviation after Putin announced the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria.
Two days before the concert, British broadcaster Sky News released an investigation stating that Palmyra was put “Islamic state” government forces in accordance with the agreements between ISIS and the Assad regime, existing already for a long time.
Based on these documents and interviews with people who have escaped from ISIS, Sky News reports on the agreements between the terrorist group and the Assad regime, according to which “Islamic state” has brought weapons from Palmyra and left some areas to attack by government forces, as well as on the agreement on trade in oil to produce fertilizers.
Sky News journalist Stuart Ramsay writes about one of the documents it received the “Islamic state”:
“The most interesting document was written shortly before the Syrian army recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic state militants.
“To withdraw all heavy artillery and anti-aircraft guns from Palmyra and its environs in the province of raqqa”, – the document says.
I asked one of the defectors, coordinated whether the “Islamic state” movement of their fighters and the withdrawal of forces from areas that they control directly with the Syrian army and even with the Russian availame.
His answer was simple. “Of course,” said he.”
Ksenia Svetlova
Arabist and Deputy in the Parliament of Israel Xenia Svetlov commented in “Facebook” the investigation by Sky News: “If anyone had doubts – Assad is coordinating with ISIS. He has to go, otherwise, Syria is doomed”.
In an interview with Radio Liberty, she noticed that the data relate to Sky News reports from other sources about Assad’s cooperation with the “Islamic state”:
– Such information doesn’t sound the first time. Maybe for the first time – from a source sufficiently authoritative, after all we are talking about the British TV channel Sky News. I have over the past two years periodically receive information that is published in the Arab world, cooperation or, shall we say, non-aggression, – it is possible, perhaps, to call a non-aggression Pact between Assad and the individual parts of the IG in Syria. In the past I’ve seen convincing enough evidence that, when Assad were a few times when opportunities approach to one of the cities to defeat the forces of the IG, he didn’t do it. In many other cases, as events unfolded, it was clear that Assad no intention to enter into a direct confrontation, in that case, if the outcome of the battle is not a foregone conclusion. So I think you can trust the investigation, which was conducted by Sky News. I think this is another proof that the West is in terms of who is Assad, what measures should be taken against him, can you trust his loud claims that he is the only defender of Syrian people from Islamic thugs, and so on.
The artillery of government forces at Palmyra
In late March we have witnessed the mass of reports that in Palmyra there are fights that Russian aircraft, despite the announcement of Russia’s withdrawal from Syria, still strikes at the Palmyra. It can not be verified? If we are told that somewhere there are fights, we really don’t know, with fighting or without fighting the city for rent?
– In General, what is happening in Syria is, in fact, to date, is probably the biggest disinformation trap in the world. I, as a journalist – before the parliamentary career – trying, for example, during the battle of HOMS around to understand what is happening when the bombing who is bombing who attack. And even the sources in the city are, for example, in some house, – the journalist calls and asks: “What do you see?” – “I see nothing, in our area there are no battles.” But this does not mean that within two block there are no battles. Clearly, if we are talking about bombing, that’s probably about it will know everything. But if it’s any more local scene, then it’s very hard to confirm the data.
But in the case of the Palmyra, for example, how she fell in his time. It was possible to protect her. Palmyra – historic city, it has more spiritual value than strategic. The strategic plan is nothing important in Palmira no. It does not represent any height that must be maintained, or all is lost. So it is with sufficient ease given at the mercy of ISIS. At the time Assad was more important to hold true to it units around Damascus, because some of the districts of Damascus were under the threat of falling. Therefore, as he passed, – a dark question, confused. It’s not quite how you imagined Syrian media, which, they say, our valiant soldiers were tried and failed [to protect Palmyra]. Therefore, regarding the fall of Palmyra, and about her return – I think a lot of the data will still be published, and we learn a lot more interesting.
Picture of destroyed ISIS ancient temple on the spot where he stood
– Russia has supported the operation to take Palmyra. If we assume that the agreement between the Assad regime and ISIS existed, Russia was supposed to know about them?
– If the relationship between Assad and Putin, between Syria and Russia really so strong, how they show us on television, of course, the allies should certainly put each other aware of the fact that they cooperate with some third party, which is like the undisputed enemy, a recognized enemy. That is to say, as if Israel suddenly learned that the United States is cooperating with Hamas to bypass Israel’s military services. Therefore, if the relations really are, then, Yes, it is possible to assume that some information could pass. But, on the other hand, could be all the contrary, if Assad is on the ground coordinated some actions with ISIS and chose not to put Russia aware of this. And that the suddenness with which the decision was made about the departure from Syria, the withdrawal of, at least partial, of the Russian troops from Syria (and now we understand how partial was this conclusion), perhaps it was due to some unforeseen circumstances and unpleasant surprises that Syrian allies, gave their Russian friends.
Is expected cooperation of the Assad regime and the “Islamic state” is global, Assad’s troops do not confront ISIS? Or it is still locally, there are some specific groups of the “Islamic state” negotiate with Assad army, and in other places still, there are fights?
– It seems to me that the picture is somewhat different. Here, I think Assad is the understanding that to take Raqqa (the original capital of ISIS in Syria. – Ed.) soon he, apparently, can not. There is no such critical superiority of forces in order to defeat a den of Islamic terrorists and to wipe off the face of the earth the epicenter of their activities. Therefore, I think it is rather the delineation of spheres of activity – who is where, who is fighting whom. Clashes between Assad’s forces and ISIS happen in areas of critical importance. But in General, some massive, powerful actions against this group are taken. And IG too, though restricts some places the Assad regime, but still prefers to deal mostly not with him. In General, it’s not the fact that the official non-aggression Pact as the Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact, but understanding that at the moment the sides are fairly weak. And at the moment they can’t make some sort of a powerful stride, although perhaps they will do it in the future – one or the other side. And since they can’t do, they focus on the destruction of the other his opponents. For Assad this is, of course, the Syrian opposition. “Free Syrian army” is probably the worst enemy for Assad now. For the IG, respectively, are all those who prevent the unchallenged rule in the occupied territories. The first goal of Islamic state is to consolidate power in the territory which he controlled.
Sergei Roldugin at a concert in Palmyra
– Russia uses the capture of Palmyra in some of their purposes. On Thursday there was a concert, which was attended by friends of Putin – Gergiev, Roldugin. If we assume that Palmyra was taken as a result of agreements with the IG, we can assume there is some kind of new strategy, that is, attempt to negotiate with the Islamic state, translated to another plane standoff?
– It’s hard to predict. Such spectacular winning things like Palmyra, a little. How can you apply such a scheme in relation to other victories, major and minor, it’s hard to say. What is clear is that Bashar Assad is the goal number 1 is to strengthen its position in Syria. And this is the purpose of Russia – at any cost to keep from falling into this mode. It is now and not threatened. For the time that Russia was active in Syria, some goals were still achieved. To build muscles and destroy those of their enemies that would like to negotiate the West, such a paradigm emerged, and it is very suitable to Assad, saying that he was all in white, while all the rest are thugs, Muslim thugs, who do not bear the world any good.
A parallel to the Americans slowly begin to refuse to support those who started the rebellion], who are now fighting in the “Free Syrian army”, for example. They can hardly be called secularists or large liberals, but they still are not Assad and not ISIS, and some third force. And this third force threatens Assad much more than Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (leader of ISIS. – Ed.) and his associates put together. Now, these people lose the only sources of support that they have in the West. Because there is the realization that Assad is likely to remain (no one talks about it openly, but in private forums this is discussed quite freely). Assad is the only way for the West to say: “we Have opposed ISIS, some no strength with which you can cooperate.” And the fact that Assad uses chemical weapons that he now just cuts out the people of Aleppo, that actually all of the participants of the civil war, most Syrians killed after all his army, trying delicately not to forget, but to push that fact aside. Therefore, to the Syrians [opposition] are trying still to stay afloat have no choice but to cooperate with such regional powers as Saudi Arabia or, on the other hand, Turkey, whose own interests that may not coincide with the interests of Syrians. So I think the situation is bad: if the Assad regime is sustained, Syria as a whole is doomed to the continuation of a bloody war, that ISIS will only strengthen their positions.
One of the rebel-held areas of Aleppo. 5 may 2016
– So, the Palmyra is an advertising campaign designed to show how the Assad regime is opposed to Islamic state, but in fact the success of Assad in a sense, only strengthen ISIS and prolong its life?
– Yes, they strengthen the IG, not just IG, and the most radical elements. Any dictatorship, not only Assad, but naturally, the dictatorship, which for 5 years decimated half a million Syrians, provokes counteraction, countering the toughest, the most implacable. This gives rise to radicalism, – says Ksenia Svetlova.
The British foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has described the concert in Palmira “a tawdry attempt to divert attention from the ongoing suffering of millions of Syrians” – against the backdrop of an air strike on a refugee camp in Northern Syria, caused, allegedly, by aviation of the Assad regime. The bombing killed at least 28 people. “This shows that the depth of the fall of this regime has no limits. Those who have influence on Assad, it’s time to say “enough means enough,” added Hammond, obviously referring to a key ally of Assad, Russia.
Valery Gergiev at the concert in Palmyra
Valentin Baryshnikov
