Putin ordered the military to enter another “humanitarian pause” in Aleppo on November 4. On the eve of an official visit to Moscow was visited by the chief of the Turkish General staff. The sides “Газеты.Ru” I believe that Russia is actively cooperating with Turkey in the negotiations with the militants, instead of ignoring even the arrangement of the Ankara military base on Syrian territory without coordination with Damascus.
Shoigu “to avoid senseless victims” on behalf of Putin took a decision on 4 November from 9 am until 19 PM to enter in Aleppo a “humanitarian pause,” said the defense Ministry.
On Monday, the heads of the General Staffs of Russia and Turkey discussed the situation in the province. Also held a “Frank exchange of views” on the situation in the North of Syria in General and in the area of the Syrian-Iraqi border.
According to the Ministry of defence, following the meeting, the sides noted “the importance of differentiating the “Dzhebhat EN-Nusra” and “moderate” opposition” and agreed to continue cooperation of staff, told the defense Ministry.
Unnoticed NATO base
On Tuesday afternoon, the Lebanese newspaper As Safir reported that Syrian area of Ziyara to the South boundary of the village of al-Rai Turkey (a NATO member) is building a military base with an airfield. According to the publication, there will be training camps for militants, who will join the units of the Syrian armed opposition, participating in the operation “shield of the Euphrates”.
Under the guise of fighting terrorism, Ankara “plans to repeat in Syria the scenario, implemented in Iraq, where she was able to create a “military camp” in the village of BA’shiqah,” wrote As-Safir. We are talking about practical steps to redraw the regional map Turkey, emphasizes the publication.
The permanent representative of Syria to the UN Bashar ja’afari called Turkey’s actions in the North “occupation”. From Moscow’s official response is not.
Russia can not prevent the promotion of Turkey in Syria and especially in Iraq, according to the orientalist Alexander Sotnichenko.
In his opinion, today Moscow has no serious instrument of pressure on Ankara. Besides, we should not forget that Turkey’s offensive in Syria is supported by the international coalition led by the United States.
“And if we interfere with Ankara, it will trigger another conflict between Moscow and Washington,” said Sotnichenko.
From 18 October a ten-kilometer zone around Aleppo completely stopped flying aircraft of Russian air force and Syrian air force. It almost immediately took advantage of the militants stepped up their offensive in the North of Syria.
In particular, 28 October the troops attempted to break in the Eastern part of the city. As reported in the Russian General staff, the attack was carried out by three groups West of Aleppo General direction to the Military Academy of al-Assad, supported by 20 tanks and 15 APCS. All this was accompanied by heavy fire from rocket launchers and artillery.
After that the General staff for the first time spoke about his request to Putin to allow air strikes on terrorists in Aleppo. However, the Russian President proposed the resumption of air strikes on Aleppo “inappropriate”.
October 30 Pro-government forces blamed militants in the use of poison gas in the South-West of Aleppo. The result 35 people were injured in the area near the military Academy, where the parties are engaged in fierce fighting.
“Bidding” at the highest level
On Monday the militants, which reached almost to the center of the city, suddenly stopped. Apparently, it has no effect some agreement between Russia and Turkey, says the orientalist Sotnichenko. He stressed that the militants do not want to negotiate with the Syrian government, but in Ankara they can influence.
Agree with this and the head of the political direction of the Center for the study of modern Turkey Yuri Mavashev. In his opinion, the Russian foreign Ministry will try to the last not to comment on the construction of a Turkish base in Syria.
“The silence from Moscow is predictable. In fact there is an agreement, according to which after the capture of the Turkish army Debica planned March on al-Bab, where there will be intense fight with ISIS. After the capture of al-Baba, the Turks will go to Raqqa. This plan, like operation “shield of the Euphrates”, with high probability, agreed with Moscow. And since the construction of the base occurs within the 90-kilometer controlled zone from Azaz to Dzharablus, and the actions of the Russian discontent will not cause”, — said Mavashev.
It turns out that Turkey is negotiating with the militants, in return, Moscow does not notice her action in the North of Syria, which is confirmed by high-level contacts — including the meeting of heads of General staffs on Monday, the expert explains.
That there are such arrangements, according to the plans of Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit Turkey at the end of the year. Besides Ankara less concerned about the fate of the Syrian President, which is fundamentally important for Russia. Judging from publications in the government Newspapers in recent months, Turkey is not insisting that Bashar Assad step down immediately. And he himself, in an interview with the New York Times said that he would remain in power until 2021.
Turkish official party newspaper Yeni Şafak wrote on Monday that Russia and Turkey have concluded an agreement under which Russia will withdraw from Northern Syria, including Aleppo, leaving these areas to the care of Turkey. However, according to interlocutors, this scenario looks unrealistic.
