Never before had Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forced Valery Gerasimov traveled on a joint tour abroad. Obviously, these two officials play the role of “messengers” who clarify certain issues for Putin-Trump meetings. Yet, why does Gerasimov need to attend meetings in Berlin and Paris, if Germany and France play a secondary military role in Syria?
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was present at the meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, July 23. Immediately afterwards, Netanyahu talked to Vladimir Putin on the phone. Russia has fulfilled its promise to guarantee the presence of the Syrian army in the south, on the border with Israel, pushing Iranian forces away from it. In turn, the US accepted the idea of Bashar Assad keeping his office. Iran earlier said that it could consider withdrawing troops if Russia could guarantee its interests.
What kind of interests are they? Bashar Assad keeps his office and remains an ally in the region. Weapons supplies to Hezbollah via the territory of Syria will have to be frozen.
Israel’s recent evacuation of White Helmets from Syria shows that the agreements are being implemented. Even the Syrian military aircraft that Israel shot down on Tuesday, July 24, did not trigger anything big. Former Iranian ambassador to Damascus and adviser to Iranian foreign minister Hussein Sheikh al-Islam said that Russia should not interfere in Syria’s internal affairs. “The Syrian government is the only party that has the right to decide who will stay in Syria, and who will leave it,” the Iranian official said. Most likely, it was not only the Iranian position that the official voiced.
The meeting in Berlin was held in the presence of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attended the meeting in Paris. According to Western publications, the meetings were arranged at Russian president’s request. The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the officials discussed issues related to Syrian refugees and the implementation of the Minsk Accords for the regulation of the crisis in Ukraine (the Normandy format).
What was the need for Mr. Gerasimov, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, to be present at all those meetings? Paris and Berlin play a secondary, one can say a humanitarian role in the Syrian conflict. It was reported that Russia and France launched a joint humanitarian operation in Syria’s liberated south. But what does Mr. Gerasimov have in common with it?
Yet, Berlin and Paris are directly responsible for the rise of fascist regime to power in Ukraine. They are also responsible for the anti-Russian hysteria in Europe. Russia held the FIFA World Cup and could now have a frank explanation with European leaders about its stance on Ukraine. Russia’s position on the crisis in Ukraine has changed. Suffice it to recall Putin’s recent proposal to hold a referendum in the Donbass. This is where Mr. Gerasimov could come in handy to talk about the red line that Ukraine has crossed in the Sea of Azov.
Earlier, Putin warned that the exacerbation of the crisis in the Donbass could lead to serious consequences for Ukraine’s statehood. It appears that the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces already has a plan of action at this point. It appears that this plan takes into account Ukraine’s possible move to launch a military operation against the Donbass either at its own will or by instructions from the deep state.
The above-mentioned meetings, held at Putin’s request, looked like a message from Putin to Merkel and Macron: “Talk to Gerasimov, if Lavrov doesn’t sound convincing for you.”
Lyuba Lulko (Stepushova)
Pravda.Ru
See more at http://www.pravdareport.com/world/europe/26-07-2018/141288-putin_merkel_macron-0/
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Obvious fake story from a well known disinfo site.
Everyone should note what a brilliant and intelligent diplomat and representative of Russia
Lavrov is. By the way his favorite class in high school was physics and he almost went into that field. This is likely partly the reason he is so intelligent. He may be as much responsible for Putin’s success as Putin himself. Read his many honors:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergey_Lavrov Quote:
“Lavrov was born on 21 March 1950[2] in Moscow, to an Armenian father and a Russian mother from Georgia.
Lavrov graduated from high school with a silver medal. Since his favorite class was physics, he planned to enter either the National Research Nuclear University or the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, but he entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and graduated in 1972.[2]
Honors and awards[edit]
Russian President Vladimir Putinand Lavrov, awarded with the Order of Service to the Fatherland, 1st class, May 2015
• He is an honorary member of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.[24]
• Order of Sergius of Radonezh 1st Class (Russia, 2015) – For his political efforts that have benefited the Russian Orthodox Church
• Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st class (2015), 2nd class (2010), 3rd class (2005) and 4th class (1998)
• Order of Honour (1996)
• Honoured Worker of the Diplomatic Service of the Russian Federation (2004)
• Order of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, 1st class (Russian Orthodox Church, 2010) and 2nd class
• Order of Friendship (Kazakhstan, 2005)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun (Peru, 2007)
• Order of Friendship of Peoples (Belarus, 2006)
• Order of Friendship (Vietnam, 2009)
• Order of Friendship (Laos)
• Medal of Honour (South Ossetia, 19 March 2010) – for his great personal contribution to strengthening international security, peace and stability in the Caucasus, the development of friendly relations between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation
• Order of St. Mashtots (Armenia, 19 August 2010) – for outstanding contribution to the consolidation and development of age-old Armenian-Russian friendly relations
• Gold Medal of the Yerevan State University (Armenia, 2007)
• Honorary medal “For participation in the programs of the United Nations” (UN Association of Russia, 2005)
• Honorary Doctorate in Diplomacy from University of Piraeus. (Greece 2016) [25]
• Order of the Serbian Flag, 1st class (Serbia, 2016)”
How many whores in the U.S. government would claim physics as their favorite subject.? They likely avoided it like the plague.
ummm…..i think you are making a point..but i cant figure out exactly what it is.
seems to me Putin has decided he can trade the Ukraine for Syria……so…we see face saving removal of terrorist white helmets for abandonment of Syria militarily……while green light given to attack Iran for perhaps some talk easily removed ..by next president…of trade etc.
The little François Macron definitly needs to free his inside mason in the station of epuraZion
pfff !!! you made a mistake in the texte : it’s not “François Macron” but Louis Micron XIII
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