Am unclear on the meaning of your last sentence? Is it that the US begrudges the Kurds their advances? I thought the US was aiding some of the Kurdish units?
Also, thanks for the clarification of the fighting between a Kurdish unit? and the FSA. I saw that reported yesterday in the news but immediately dismissed it.
Ok, you need to work on your summation sentences in these pieces–Unless ambiguity is intended.
Seems to have started as a fight between Kurds and a pro government militia group, but it seems that Kurds have now also fired on SAA. US involvement? This is in eastern Syria not far from the US airfield at Rmeilan
US trying to clear all Syrian government forces from eastern Syria?
If the Kurds really did fire at the SAA, then surely it’s provoked by none other than our favorite exceptionalist supporters of creating the Greater Israel. Google or Yandex it. The Kurds seem to occupy the part of Turkey that is needed for the plan to be realized.
as we haven’t many comments here so is there ‘room’ for a long post?
posting most of the article cos of raised concerns by Rus, but not the end part with localised details…mods if not happy with that then then please moderate!!!!
cheers
“Russian Security Council expressed “grave concern” because of “a serious degradation of the situation” in talks on Syria in Geneva.
The head of the delegation of the Syrian opposition, Assad al-Zoubi said that its representatives to leave Geneva Friday. As noted by Reuters, the opposition decided to “draw a line under the negotiations” as long as the Syrian government does not comply with their conditions. It is reported that representatives of leaving the negotiations, did not intend to return to Geneva to fulfill their requirements. “We did not arrive until our demands are met. Too many parties have tried to convince us to stay, but as the head of the CPSU Riyad Hijab said, there are certain requirements that must be fulfilled, “- said the head of the delegation of the CPSU Asaad al-Zoubi. Earlier it was planned that the negotiations in Geneva will continue until the middle of next week.
Out of the CPSU from the negotiation process will remove an obstacle to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, said the head of the Syrian government delegation led by the Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari. According to him, the CPSU decision to suspend participation in the talks was a reaction on the support of the Syrian government by the people and the military successes in the fight against terrorism.
Turkey is stepping up the number of tanks on the border with Syria, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet The.
Turkey continues arming terrorists and strengthen their forces on the territory of Syria, said Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Khalq. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, France and Britain are trying to destroy Syria’s infrastructure and economy, are arming terrorists in the country, said the prime minister. According to him, during the last week across the border with Turkey in the Syrian province of Aleppo and Idlib have moved more than 5 thousand fighters.
The number of settlements that have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 69. The number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to the adoption and implementation of the termination conditions hostilities, remained unchanged – 50
termination mode of fighting in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic adhered to. During the day, 5 violations recorded (in Lattakia Province – 3, in the province of Homs – 2). For days before recorded 6 violations (in the province of Latakia – 5, in the province of Homs – 1).
The Russian VKS by opposition armed groups, have declared a cessation of hostilities and to report to the Russian or American centers reconciliation information about their location, strikes are not applied.
The Chief Military Russian prosecutor-general, Colonel of Justice Sergei Fridinsky discussed in Damascus, the fight against international terrorism and to strengthen cooperation with the chief of the military and judicial administration the Ministry of defense of Syria Muhammad Hassan kanji defense Minister CAP and chief of Staff of the Syrian army.
The US still has no plans of military cooperation with Russia in Syria, said State Department spokesman John Kirby. “For safety reasons, the exchange is carried out tactical information in regard to the airspace of Syria. This continues, but now there are no other plans to actively cooperate in the military aspect with the Russian military in Syria.” According to him, continued political cooperation with Russia on the resolution in Syria, and Russia is “one of the leaders” in the international efforts in this regard.
The United States urges the Syrian opposition to respect the ceasefire in the country, US President Barack Obama said. “We continue to urge the moderate opposition in Syria to observe the cease-fire ceasefire is very fragile.” – He said.
Russia will not ignore media reports about deliveries from the territory of Romania and Bulgaria, the US side of large parties of Soviet weapons to representatives of the Syrian opposition, said Director of the Department of information and Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. “We have carefully studied this information. We have no reason to leave it without attention, “- said Zakharov. The idea is that with the assistance of the Romanian sea through Turkey and Jordan was transferred a large batch of weapons. “The range of transported military goods (PVN) is extensive – from the traditional Kalashnikov assault rifles, grenade launchers and antitank weapons systems to various purposes – clarified Zakharov. -. There is the fact of illegal re-export of unlicensed samples of Soviet DID ”
A similar operation in the illegal transfer of a” confidential “cargo area to support the armed opposition antiasadovskoy was conducted with the use of infrastructure and the Bulgarian port of Burgas. “From the above facts, it follows that the Romanian and Bulgarian partners knowingly violate not only the rights to intellectual property obtained in the course of bilateral military-technical cooperation, but also do not fulfill their commitments on the Arms Trade Treaty, violate” common position “of the European Union to control the export of military technology and equipment. Their steps taken, as we understand it, with the filing of and with the participation of US government agencies, do not contribute to an early settlement of the situation in Syria, to stop there fighting, “- said Foreign Ministry spokesman.
US concerned about media reports that Russia supposedly moves to the territory of Syria, additional weapons, quoted by Reuters news agency the statement of Deputy advisor of US President for National Security Ben Rhodes. “We are concerned about reports that Russian arms transfers to Syria,” – said Rhodes during a press briefing in the Saudi capital, which is on a visit by US President Barack Obama. “We believe that moving additional military equipment or personnel to Syria to Russia will be negative,” – said Rhodes.
The presence of Russian air defense systems does not allow anyone in Syria whatsoever to violate the airspace of the country, said the Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Khalq . “We are encouraged by the very existence of modern air defense systems, whether it is a C-300 or C-400 Because they guard the sovereignty of the Syrian airspace, preventing aircraft any modifications break the Syrian airspace.” -. He said
Syrian forces intend start preparing for the operation to free Deir ez-Zor, also said CAP Prime Minister. “Once we have with our allies in Russia and resistance freed Karyateyn and Palmyra, we intend to secure the area around these areas and start to prepare for other operations, including, of course, will be the direction of Deir ez-Zor,” – he said, .
United Nations began evacuating 500 wounded residents of besieged cities. From Zabadani already evacuated 15 militants and 10 elderly people in need of medical care. Earlier, Syria’s assistant UN special envoy for Jan Egeland said that the organization also expects to evacuate nearly 500 patients, the wounded and their families from Madayi, Zabadani, Foix and Kefrayi – “the greatest medical evacuation, which was planned.”
Deputies Chamber of the British Parliament unanimously supported the proposal to characterize the actions of the terrorist group “Islamic State” in relation to ethnic and religious minorities in Syria as genocide.
Turkish border guards once again began to shoot Syrian refugees trying to cross into Turkey across the border with Syria. About this newspaper The Times. It is alleged that the guards killed eight Syrians, with most of them – women and children. Their group was trying to pass through the border of a mountain road used by smugglers, and the Turkish military opened fire on them from the weapons of war.
Damascus is expecting the delivery of a new batch of grain from Russia in volume of 100 thousand tons, said Prime Minister of Syria Wael al-Khalq . “A big factor in supporting the steadfastness of the Syrian people was to ensure its food security, in particular the supply of grain provided by the Russian authorities, Russian President Putin’s first batch of 100 million tons, the next -. And 100 thousand tons”, – said the Syrian prime minister. The Prime Minister also noted the role of Russia in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged terrorists city of Deir ez-Zor. “Humanitarian assistance is delivered to the Russian Air Force, she dropped it into the besieged for more than two years, the city on parachutes” – Prime Minister added.”
google translate
Since its known that Romania and Bulgaria are “illegally” shipping weapons on the “high seas” to terrorist organizations. Then why are those ships not being stopped,boarded,the weapons seized,and the ships impounded. That should have been done right from the beginning. If anyone wants to stop the arming of terrorists. That would certainly be a way to start with.
note that Ben Rhodes USA Security Advisor —in Saudi what a coincidence especially since the HNC are putting their foot down and trying to break off/control the peace negotiations, anything to get rid of Assad(with US tacit approval?? and they refuse to recognise the elections too)-completely inverts the situation, Rus is sending more arms…..not NATO countries subverting the UN resolution………
all beginning to turn rather messy indeed, so anyone can use Rus armaments obtained like this to create a false flag-devious it all is.
Zakharova told TASS on Thursday.
“We carefully studied this information,” the spokeswoman said. ‘We have no grounds to leave it without attention as the Romanian media mentioned as its source the publication of April 8 this year in the reputable military edition Jane’s Defense, which has a broad reading audience. This article is based on the data posted on the US governmental portal Federal Business Opportunities and lifts the veil over one of the cases of the illegal supplies of ‘Soviet weapons’ to the world’s crisis regions with the use of the possibilities of private intermediary companies for implementing contracts on trade in various types of lethal weapons produced under expired Soviet licenses,” the spokeswoman said.
READ ALSO
Qadri Jamil: US should provide HNC with pen and paper for talks, not weapons
Moscow says noted reports on arms supplies to Syria from Eastern Europe
Russian lawmaker comments on media reports of possible US arms supply to Syrian opposition
“Indicatively, the orders for the deliveries of ‘explosive’ materials to the Jordanian port of Aqaba by shipping companies were placed on behalf of the US Military Sealift Command,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“Later, an update was issued to detail the nature of cargo and its weight – 994 tons – half of which was required for unloading at the military wharf Agalar of the Turkish port of Tasuku near the Syrian border,” she added.
Judging from the information given in the article, a large batch of Soviet-type weapons was shipped by sea with Romania’s assistance through Turkey and Jordan to the so-called “Syrian rebels” fighting against the regime of legitimately elected President Bashar Assad.
“The range of shipped military products was quite wide, from traditional Kalashnikov assault rifles, grenade launchers and hand-held antitank systems to armaments of various designations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“What is obvious is the illegal re-export of unlicensed types of Soviet military products,” Zakharova said.
A similar operation was held using the infrastructure of the Bulgarian port of Bourgas for the illegal transfer of some “confidential cargo” to the region to support the anti-Assad armed opposition, the spokeswoman said.
Therefore, legitimate questions arise: how were these deals formalized, considering that Russia, Romania and Bulgaria have not settled until now the issue of licensed production in the military and technical sphere through the fault of the latter countries? Why do the UN and OSCE member-states participating in this illegal operation so easily breach their international commitments in the field of preventing illegal turnover of light and small arms?”
“It follows from the above-mentioned facts that Romanian and Bulgarian partners are consciously violating the rights to the results of intellectual property received during bilateral military and technical cooperation and breaching their commitments under the international Arms Trade Treaty, violating the European Union’s common position on control of the exports of military technologies and equipment,” Zakharova said.
“Their steps that were taken, as we understand, at the suggestion and with the participation of US government structures, do not contribute to the quickest settlement of the situation in Syria and the cessation of combat operations there,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“Unfortunately, we again have to state double standards for peace and transparency,” Zakharova said.
Simplified packing list for December 2015 arms shipment
Type
IHS Janes had a bit about one shipment at their site. Moon of Alabama had an article on it.
The full packing list is at the IHS Janes link. A bit over 900 tons in this shipment.
http://www.janes.com/article/59374/us-arms-shipment-to-syrian-rebels-detailed
Documents released by the US government’s Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website have provided an indication of the types and numbers of Eastern European weapons and ammunition the United States is providing to Syrian rebel groups as part of a programme that continues despite the widely respected ceasefire in that country.
The FBO has released two solicitations in recent months looking for shipping companies to transport explosive material from Eastern Europe to the Jordanian port of Aqaba on behalf of the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command.
Released on 3 November 2015, the first solicitation sought a contractor to ship 81 containers of cargo that included explosive material from Constanta in Romania to Aqaba.
The solicitation was subsequently updated with a detailed packing list that showed the cargo had a total weight of 994 tonnes, a little under half of which was to be unloaded at Agalar, a military pier near the Turkish town of Tasucu, the other half at Aqaba.
The cargo listed in the document included AK-47 rifles, PKM general-purpose machine guns, DShK heavy machine guns, RPG-7 rocket launchers, and 9K111M Faktoria anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) systems. The Faktoria is an improved version of the 9K111 Fagot ATGW, the primary difference being that its missile has a tandem warhead for defeating explosive reactive armour (ERA) fitted to some tanks.
and I don’t believe a word of what HNC say here either1
There were not serious disagreements among members of the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) over the issue of the necessity to continue the current round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, according to HNC’s member Monzer Makhous.
GENEVA (Sputnik) – The Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) refuted reports to Sputnik on Friday about disagreements within the delegation that led to its splitting.
The latest round of the intra-Syria talks kicked off on April 13, and was supposed to focus on Syria’s political transition, governance, and new constitution.”
Europe’s refugee policy is disastrous and chaotic, prominent philosopher Slavoj Žižek told RT, adding that the EU must control migrant flows and get to the root of the Middle East crisis by recognizing its key “components”: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
Žižek, who is known for frankly expressing his views on acute social subjects, is an author, a professor at the European Graduate School, a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Institute of Sociology, and the International Director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London’s Birkbeck College.
In an exclusive interview with RT, Žižek argued that one of the biggest problems with Europe’s immigration policy is that it is pursued from a neo-colonial perspective that focuses on so-called “white man’s burden” and “guilt.”
However, he added that it would be wrong to blame Europe for all of the problems in the Middle East and to assume that refugees are blind victims who bear no responsibility in the crisis.
According to Žižek, Europe should “fundamentally” change its outlook and avoid the “trap of self-pitying.”
“Isn’t the very fact that millions want to go to Europe prove that people still see something in Europe,” he noted, stressing that he supports the idea of a united Europe, but not the “anonymous Brussels European democracy.”
“The problem with Europe is not democratic deficit, but a deficit of a political force that knows what it wants.”
Europeans need to “raise questions” and realize that Muslims are dealing with many internal problems, including radicalization by groups like Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), as well as the sectarian Sunni-Shia divide.
‘New axis of evil’?
Moreover, Žižek argued that external forces in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts must be taken into account. He pointed to what he branded as “a new axis of evil” in the region, claiming that its main “components” are Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
Žižek blamed Europe for readily opening its borders to refugees at a time when rich Gulf Arab states are accepting “practically none.”
“What about the very rich Arab countries, very much richer than Europe, which are closer to the crisis area, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates? These are Sunni countries. Most of the refugees are Sunni Muslims.”
Meanwhile, Turkey, which has been receiving refugees, is at the same time “ruthlessly” following its own agenda in the crisis, he said.
Migrant swap deal with Turkey ‘shameful, unethical’
Žižek believes that the recent controversial deal struck between the EU and Turkey, which will see Turkey take back all of the migrants who arrive in Greece in return for $6.8 billion worth of aid over the next three years, is a “most shameful agreement” for Europe.
Another condition that could be attached to the agreement would see Turkish citizens travelling to the EU visa-free starting at the end June.
Erdogan began to attack the Kurds out of fear that the last election wouldn’t go so well, Žižek argued: “He cooked up this new crisis with Kurds and the operation was very vicious. He hoped he would succeed in preventing the Kurdish party from entering the Parliament.”
The philosopher painted a bleak future for Turkish democracy.
“Kurds are victims of a more fundamental problem that concerns Turkish society. What kind of Turkey will emerge now? Two years ago there were big demonstrations in Istanbul. [The authorities] are projecting an external enemy their own inner antagonism.”
‘Militarize migration process or face chaos, wider rift’
Lambasting the EU’s current efforts to tackle the migrant crisis, Žižek offered his own concept for dealing with the problem, which he called “militarization” – not that of the European space, but of the war-stricken emigration hotspots. He explained that, in his view, European states must establish a military basis to “organize airlifts and regulate immigration” in Syria and Libya.
He called the current state of affairs “a political fiasco of Europe… a scandal,” adding that immigrants “just flow in a disorganized way.”
“Refugees should be helped, but not in this chaotic way. If things continue as is, in five years, Europe will no longer be Europe, not in a sense of Islamization, but in a sense of the predominance of anti-immigrant populace.”
For now, EU policies are creating rifts between European neighbors.
The idea that different cultures can peacefully coexist together is a “dream,” Žižek argued.
“When different cultures live in the same state, but have different ways of life, they also treat each there in different ways.”
As examples, he pointed to situations in which Muslims extremists have attacked gays in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany.
In addition, he said that in Germany over 2,000 Muslim girls escape from their families per year and then demand protection from the state, which puts additional burden on the government’s budget.
“Europe needs to be open to refugees, but we have to be clear they are in our culture. Certain ethical limits (for example women’s freedom of choice) are non-negotiable. We should be more assertive toward our values,” Žižek argued.
“Europe means something noble – human rights, welfare state, social programs for the poor. All of this is embodied in enlightenment of the European legacy.”
“Lawmakers in the European Parliament have been told the shocking fact that there are 10,000 children missing in Europe who are being exploited by criminal gangs and used for sex, begging or are forced to commit crimes.
Representatives of the Europol law enforcement agency, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the NGO Missing Children Europe briefed Members of the European Parliament on the numbers and reasons why the children are believed to have gone missing.
They were told that it is feared that some of these children are being exploited by criminal gangs, due to the often close ties between human smugglers, who facilitate travel for around 90% of the migrants, and criminal networks.
“These children may be sexually exploited, used for begging or forced to commit crimes. However, children may also disappear in search of friends or family in other EU countries or out of sheer desperation caused by cumbersome asylum procedures or detention in reception centers,” a briefing said.
According to the UNHCR, 35 percent of migrants entering the EU since 1 January 2016 are children. Many travel unaccompanied by an adult. In 2015, 85,482 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in the EU, which was three times the 2014 figure. Half of them were from Afghanistan, and 13 percent from Syria.
Am unclear on the meaning of your last sentence? Is it that the US begrudges the Kurds their advances? I thought the US was aiding some of the Kurdish units?
Also, thanks for the clarification of the fighting between a Kurdish unit? and the FSA. I saw that reported yesterday in the news but immediately dismissed it.
Ok, you need to work on your summation sentences in these pieces–Unless ambiguity is intended.
oops..typo…the Syrian Army fighting a Kurdish unit of unknown designation. ( not FSA, sorry)
Ok. this clears up the matter . It is the Syrian Government via their army vs. the internal security squad of the YPG
https://www.rt.com/news/340542-kurds-qamishli-syria-army/
Seems to have started as a fight between Kurds and a pro government militia group, but it seems that Kurds have now also fired on SAA. US involvement? This is in eastern Syria not far from the US airfield at Rmeilan
US trying to clear all Syrian government forces from eastern Syria?
If the Kurds really did fire at the SAA, then surely it’s provoked by none other than our favorite exceptionalist supporters of creating the Greater Israel. Google or Yandex it. The Kurds seem to occupy the part of Turkey that is needed for the plan to be realized.
http://www.anna-news.info/node/57266 for 2-21 April.
as we haven’t many comments here so is there ‘room’ for a long post?
posting most of the article cos of raised concerns by Rus, but not the end part with localised details…mods if not happy with that then then please moderate!!!!
cheers
“Russian Security Council expressed “grave concern” because of “a serious degradation of the situation” in talks on Syria in Geneva.
The head of the delegation of the Syrian opposition, Assad al-Zoubi said that its representatives to leave Geneva Friday. As noted by Reuters, the opposition decided to “draw a line under the negotiations” as long as the Syrian government does not comply with their conditions. It is reported that representatives of leaving the negotiations, did not intend to return to Geneva to fulfill their requirements. “We did not arrive until our demands are met. Too many parties have tried to convince us to stay, but as the head of the CPSU Riyad Hijab said, there are certain requirements that must be fulfilled, “- said the head of the delegation of the CPSU Asaad al-Zoubi. Earlier it was planned that the negotiations in Geneva will continue until the middle of next week.
Out of the CPSU from the negotiation process will remove an obstacle to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria, said the head of the Syrian government delegation led by the Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari. According to him, the CPSU decision to suspend participation in the talks was a reaction on the support of the Syrian government by the people and the military successes in the fight against terrorism.
Turkey is stepping up the number of tanks on the border with Syria, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet The.
Turkey continues arming terrorists and strengthen their forces on the territory of Syria, said Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Khalq. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, France and Britain are trying to destroy Syria’s infrastructure and economy, are arming terrorists in the country, said the prime minister. According to him, during the last week across the border with Turkey in the Syrian province of Aleppo and Idlib have moved more than 5 thousand fighters.
The number of settlements that have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 69. The number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to the adoption and implementation of the termination conditions hostilities, remained unchanged – 50
termination mode of fighting in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic adhered to. During the day, 5 violations recorded (in Lattakia Province – 3, in the province of Homs – 2). For days before recorded 6 violations (in the province of Latakia – 5, in the province of Homs – 1).
The Russian VKS by opposition armed groups, have declared a cessation of hostilities and to report to the Russian or American centers reconciliation information about their location, strikes are not applied.
The Chief Military Russian prosecutor-general, Colonel of Justice Sergei Fridinsky discussed in Damascus, the fight against international terrorism and to strengthen cooperation with the chief of the military and judicial administration the Ministry of defense of Syria Muhammad Hassan kanji defense Minister CAP and chief of Staff of the Syrian army.
The US still has no plans of military cooperation with Russia in Syria, said State Department spokesman John Kirby. “For safety reasons, the exchange is carried out tactical information in regard to the airspace of Syria. This continues, but now there are no other plans to actively cooperate in the military aspect with the Russian military in Syria.” According to him, continued political cooperation with Russia on the resolution in Syria, and Russia is “one of the leaders” in the international efforts in this regard.
The United States urges the Syrian opposition to respect the ceasefire in the country, US President Barack Obama said. “We continue to urge the moderate opposition in Syria to observe the cease-fire ceasefire is very fragile.” – He said.
Russia will not ignore media reports about deliveries from the territory of Romania and Bulgaria, the US side of large parties of Soviet weapons to representatives of the Syrian opposition, said Director of the Department of information and Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. “We have carefully studied this information. We have no reason to leave it without attention, “- said Zakharov. The idea is that with the assistance of the Romanian sea through Turkey and Jordan was transferred a large batch of weapons. “The range of transported military goods (PVN) is extensive – from the traditional Kalashnikov assault rifles, grenade launchers and antitank weapons systems to various purposes – clarified Zakharov. -. There is the fact of illegal re-export of unlicensed samples of Soviet DID ”
A similar operation in the illegal transfer of a” confidential “cargo area to support the armed opposition antiasadovskoy was conducted with the use of infrastructure and the Bulgarian port of Burgas. “From the above facts, it follows that the Romanian and Bulgarian partners knowingly violate not only the rights to intellectual property obtained in the course of bilateral military-technical cooperation, but also do not fulfill their commitments on the Arms Trade Treaty, violate” common position “of the European Union to control the export of military technology and equipment. Their steps taken, as we understand it, with the filing of and with the participation of US government agencies, do not contribute to an early settlement of the situation in Syria, to stop there fighting, “- said Foreign Ministry spokesman.
US concerned about media reports that Russia supposedly moves to the territory of Syria, additional weapons, quoted by Reuters news agency the statement of Deputy advisor of US President for National Security Ben Rhodes. “We are concerned about reports that Russian arms transfers to Syria,” – said Rhodes during a press briefing in the Saudi capital, which is on a visit by US President Barack Obama. “We believe that moving additional military equipment or personnel to Syria to Russia will be negative,” – said Rhodes.
The presence of Russian air defense systems does not allow anyone in Syria whatsoever to violate the airspace of the country, said the Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Khalq . “We are encouraged by the very existence of modern air defense systems, whether it is a C-300 or C-400 Because they guard the sovereignty of the Syrian airspace, preventing aircraft any modifications break the Syrian airspace.” -. He said
Syrian forces intend start preparing for the operation to free Deir ez-Zor, also said CAP Prime Minister. “Once we have with our allies in Russia and resistance freed Karyateyn and Palmyra, we intend to secure the area around these areas and start to prepare for other operations, including, of course, will be the direction of Deir ez-Zor,” – he said, .
United Nations began evacuating 500 wounded residents of besieged cities. From Zabadani already evacuated 15 militants and 10 elderly people in need of medical care. Earlier, Syria’s assistant UN special envoy for Jan Egeland said that the organization also expects to evacuate nearly 500 patients, the wounded and their families from Madayi, Zabadani, Foix and Kefrayi – “the greatest medical evacuation, which was planned.”
Deputies Chamber of the British Parliament unanimously supported the proposal to characterize the actions of the terrorist group “Islamic State” in relation to ethnic and religious minorities in Syria as genocide.
Turkish border guards once again began to shoot Syrian refugees trying to cross into Turkey across the border with Syria. About this newspaper The Times. It is alleged that the guards killed eight Syrians, with most of them – women and children. Their group was trying to pass through the border of a mountain road used by smugglers, and the Turkish military opened fire on them from the weapons of war.
Damascus is expecting the delivery of a new batch of grain from Russia in volume of 100 thousand tons, said Prime Minister of Syria Wael al-Khalq . “A big factor in supporting the steadfastness of the Syrian people was to ensure its food security, in particular the supply of grain provided by the Russian authorities, Russian President Putin’s first batch of 100 million tons, the next -. And 100 thousand tons”, – said the Syrian prime minister. The Prime Minister also noted the role of Russia in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged terrorists city of Deir ez-Zor. “Humanitarian assistance is delivered to the Russian Air Force, she dropped it into the besieged for more than two years, the city on parachutes” – Prime Minister added.”
google translate
Since its known that Romania and Bulgaria are “illegally” shipping weapons on the “high seas” to terrorist organizations. Then why are those ships not being stopped,boarded,the weapons seized,and the ships impounded. That should have been done right from the beginning. If anyone wants to stop the arming of terrorists. That would certainly be a way to start with.
note that Ben Rhodes USA Security Advisor —in Saudi what a coincidence especially since the HNC are putting their foot down and trying to break off/control the peace negotiations, anything to get rid of Assad(with US tacit approval?? and they refuse to recognise the elections too)-completely inverts the situation, Rus is sending more arms…..not NATO countries subverting the UN resolution………
all beginning to turn rather messy indeed, so anyone can use Rus armaments obtained like this to create a false flag-devious it all is.
bit more detail
Zakharova told TASS on Thursday.
“We carefully studied this information,” the spokeswoman said. ‘We have no grounds to leave it without attention as the Romanian media mentioned as its source the publication of April 8 this year in the reputable military edition Jane’s Defense, which has a broad reading audience. This article is based on the data posted on the US governmental portal Federal Business Opportunities and lifts the veil over one of the cases of the illegal supplies of ‘Soviet weapons’ to the world’s crisis regions with the use of the possibilities of private intermediary companies for implementing contracts on trade in various types of lethal weapons produced under expired Soviet licenses,” the spokeswoman said.
READ ALSO
Qadri Jamil: US should provide HNC with pen and paper for talks, not weapons
Moscow says noted reports on arms supplies to Syria from Eastern Europe
Russian lawmaker comments on media reports of possible US arms supply to Syrian opposition
“Indicatively, the orders for the deliveries of ‘explosive’ materials to the Jordanian port of Aqaba by shipping companies were placed on behalf of the US Military Sealift Command,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“Later, an update was issued to detail the nature of cargo and its weight – 994 tons – half of which was required for unloading at the military wharf Agalar of the Turkish port of Tasuku near the Syrian border,” she added.
Judging from the information given in the article, a large batch of Soviet-type weapons was shipped by sea with Romania’s assistance through Turkey and Jordan to the so-called “Syrian rebels” fighting against the regime of legitimately elected President Bashar Assad.
“The range of shipped military products was quite wide, from traditional Kalashnikov assault rifles, grenade launchers and hand-held antitank systems to armaments of various designations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“What is obvious is the illegal re-export of unlicensed types of Soviet military products,” Zakharova said.
A similar operation was held using the infrastructure of the Bulgarian port of Bourgas for the illegal transfer of some “confidential cargo” to the region to support the anti-Assad armed opposition, the spokeswoman said.
Therefore, legitimate questions arise: how were these deals formalized, considering that Russia, Romania and Bulgaria have not settled until now the issue of licensed production in the military and technical sphere through the fault of the latter countries? Why do the UN and OSCE member-states participating in this illegal operation so easily breach their international commitments in the field of preventing illegal turnover of light and small arms?”
“It follows from the above-mentioned facts that Romanian and Bulgarian partners are consciously violating the rights to the results of intellectual property received during bilateral military and technical cooperation and breaching their commitments under the international Arms Trade Treaty, violating the European Union’s common position on control of the exports of military technologies and equipment,” Zakharova said.
“Their steps that were taken, as we understand, at the suggestion and with the participation of US government structures, do not contribute to the quickest settlement of the situation in Syria and the cessation of combat operations there,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
“Unfortunately, we again have to state double standards for peace and transparency,” Zakharova said.
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/871741
Simplified packing list for December 2015 arms shipment
Type
IHS Janes had a bit about one shipment at their site. Moon of Alabama had an article on it.
The full packing list is at the IHS Janes link. A bit over 900 tons in this shipment.
http://www.janes.com/article/59374/us-arms-shipment-to-syrian-rebels-detailed
Documents released by the US government’s Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website have provided an indication of the types and numbers of Eastern European weapons and ammunition the United States is providing to Syrian rebel groups as part of a programme that continues despite the widely respected ceasefire in that country.
The FBO has released two solicitations in recent months looking for shipping companies to transport explosive material from Eastern Europe to the Jordanian port of Aqaba on behalf of the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command.
Released on 3 November 2015, the first solicitation sought a contractor to ship 81 containers of cargo that included explosive material from Constanta in Romania to Aqaba.
The solicitation was subsequently updated with a detailed packing list that showed the cargo had a total weight of 994 tonnes, a little under half of which was to be unloaded at Agalar, a military pier near the Turkish town of Tasucu, the other half at Aqaba.
The cargo listed in the document included AK-47 rifles, PKM general-purpose machine guns, DShK heavy machine guns, RPG-7 rocket launchers, and 9K111M Faktoria anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) systems. The Faktoria is an improved version of the 9K111 Fagot ATGW, the primary difference being that its missile has a tandem warhead for defeating explosive reactive armour (ERA) fitted to some tanks.
and I don’t believe a word of what HNC say here either1
There were not serious disagreements among members of the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) over the issue of the necessity to continue the current round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, according to HNC’s member Monzer Makhous.
GENEVA (Sputnik) – The Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) refuted reports to Sputnik on Friday about disagreements within the delegation that led to its splitting.
The delegation of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) and U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura are seen at the start of a meeting during Syria peace talks at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in this March 17, 2016 file photo
© REUTERS/ DENIS BALIBOUSE/FILES
Next Round of Intra-Syria Talks Should Focus on Political Transition – HNC
On Wednesday, Sputnik learned from a source close to the HNC that the delegation had split over the issue of the necessity to continue the current round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva. Part of the delegation insists on the “uselessness of talks” while fighting in Syria continues, for which they blame the Syrian government. The other side says these talks are the only chance to move toward settlement. Most members of the HNC delegation left the talks.
“No, these were just technical issues. The decision was largely supported. Maybe two or three people [were not in favour of it] but these were not serious disagreements. The fact that we are leaving the delegation gradually is linked to the fact that everyone is going to different counties,” HNC’s member Monzer Makhous said, adding that only three or four people were expected to remain at the talks on Friday night.
The latest round of the intra-Syria talks kicked off on April 13, and was supposed to focus on Syria’s political transition, governance, and new constitution.”
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160422/1038441671/hnc-intra-syrian-talks-split.html#ixzz46YcBZrRy
Europe’s refugee policy is disastrous and chaotic, prominent philosopher Slavoj Žižek told RT, adding that the EU must control migrant flows and get to the root of the Middle East crisis by recognizing its key “components”: Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
Žižek, who is known for frankly expressing his views on acute social subjects, is an author, a professor at the European Graduate School, a senior researcher at the University of Ljubljana’s Institute of Sociology, and the International Director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities at the University of London’s Birkbeck College.
In an exclusive interview with RT, Žižek argued that one of the biggest problems with Europe’s immigration policy is that it is pursued from a neo-colonial perspective that focuses on so-called “white man’s burden” and “guilt.”
However, he added that it would be wrong to blame Europe for all of the problems in the Middle East and to assume that refugees are blind victims who bear no responsibility in the crisis.
Slavoj Zizek. © Matt Carr / Getty Images / AFP
Slavoj Zizek. © Matt Carr / Getty Images / AFP
“I think this reduction of the other to an impotent, blind victim, who doesn’t have any responsibility, is another version of what in colonialist times was called white man’s burden,” Žižek explained. “Those who pretend to be the most open to migrants or refugees really treat them in an openly racist, patronizing way.”
According to Žižek, Europe should “fundamentally” change its outlook and avoid the “trap of self-pitying.”
“Isn’t the very fact that millions want to go to Europe prove that people still see something in Europe,” he noted, stressing that he supports the idea of a united Europe, but not the “anonymous Brussels European democracy.”
“The problem with Europe is not democratic deficit, but a deficit of a political force that knows what it wants.”
Europeans need to “raise questions” and realize that Muslims are dealing with many internal problems, including radicalization by groups like Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), as well as the sectarian Sunni-Shia divide.
‘New axis of evil’?
Moreover, Žižek argued that external forces in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts must be taken into account. He pointed to what he branded as “a new axis of evil” in the region, claiming that its main “components” are Turkey, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.
Read more
© StringerTurkey meets less than half of visa-free EU travel terms as deadline approaches – official
“We now know that Israel and Saudi Arabia openly collaborate on security issues, secret policy, military and so on. This new front is against mostly their Shia opponents. This is a crucial fact and is the source of the problems.”
Žižek blamed Europe for readily opening its borders to refugees at a time when rich Gulf Arab states are accepting “practically none.”
“What about the very rich Arab countries, very much richer than Europe, which are closer to the crisis area, such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates? These are Sunni countries. Most of the refugees are Sunni Muslims.”
Meanwhile, Turkey, which has been receiving refugees, is at the same time “ruthlessly” following its own agenda in the crisis, he said.
Migrant swap deal with Turkey ‘shameful, unethical’
Žižek believes that the recent controversial deal struck between the EU and Turkey, which will see Turkey take back all of the migrants who arrive in Greece in return for $6.8 billion worth of aid over the next three years, is a “most shameful agreement” for Europe.
Another condition that could be attached to the agreement would see Turkish citizens travelling to the EU visa-free starting at the end June.
© Marko Djurica
© Marko Djurica / Reuters
“Turkey is ruthlessly pursuing its agenda. The agreement is totally unethical. [The EU] is making a compromise with a state which is in part responsible for the crisis.”
Read more
© Osman OrsalChildren, women killed by Turkish border guards while fleeing Syria – report
Žižek said that while Turkey is allegedly “pretending to fight terror” in the region, in reality it is only cracking down on Kurds, who are “one of the few in northern Syria who are really fighting against Islamic State.”
Erdogan began to attack the Kurds out of fear that the last election wouldn’t go so well, Žižek argued: “He cooked up this new crisis with Kurds and the operation was very vicious. He hoped he would succeed in preventing the Kurdish party from entering the Parliament.”
The philosopher painted a bleak future for Turkish democracy.
“Kurds are victims of a more fundamental problem that concerns Turkish society. What kind of Turkey will emerge now? Two years ago there were big demonstrations in Istanbul. [The authorities] are projecting an external enemy their own inner antagonism.”
‘Militarize migration process or face chaos, wider rift’
Lambasting the EU’s current efforts to tackle the migrant crisis, Žižek offered his own concept for dealing with the problem, which he called “militarization” – not that of the European space, but of the war-stricken emigration hotspots. He explained that, in his view, European states must establish a military basis to “organize airlifts and regulate immigration” in Syria and Libya.
He called the current state of affairs “a political fiasco of Europe… a scandal,” adding that immigrants “just flow in a disorganized way.”
“Refugees should be helped, but not in this chaotic way. If things continue as is, in five years, Europe will no longer be Europe, not in a sense of Islamization, but in a sense of the predominance of anti-immigrant populace.”
For now, EU policies are creating rifts between European neighbors.
Read more
A Syrian refugee tries to catch his breath as he stands in a crowded line to get registered in the national stadium of the Greek island of Kos, August 12, 2015. © Alkis Konstantinidis ‘No visa-free travel – no migrant deal,’ Turkey tells increasingly wary EU
“These western European countries are playing dirty games. Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, did a big invitation, but then when there were too many refugees, [she] didn’t want to dirty [her] hands by saying ‘stop.’ Instead, small Balkan countries were left to do the dirty job and discreetly stop the flow of refugees,” the philosopher claimed.
The idea that different cultures can peacefully coexist together is a “dream,” Žižek argued.
“When different cultures live in the same state, but have different ways of life, they also treat each there in different ways.”
As examples, he pointed to situations in which Muslims extremists have attacked gays in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany.
In addition, he said that in Germany over 2,000 Muslim girls escape from their families per year and then demand protection from the state, which puts additional burden on the government’s budget.
“Europe needs to be open to refugees, but we have to be clear they are in our culture. Certain ethical limits (for example women’s freedom of choice) are non-negotiable. We should be more assertive toward our values,” Žižek argued.
“Europe means something noble – human rights, welfare state, social programs for the poor. All of this is embodied in enlightenment of the European legacy.”
https://www.rt.com/news/340562-eu-refugee-policy-chaos-militarization/
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http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160422/1038441153/sweden-islamism-politics-scandal.html
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compare with
“Lawmakers in the European Parliament have been told the shocking fact that there are 10,000 children missing in Europe who are being exploited by criminal gangs and used for sex, begging or are forced to commit crimes.
Representatives of the Europol law enforcement agency, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the NGO Missing Children Europe briefed Members of the European Parliament on the numbers and reasons why the children are believed to have gone missing.
They were told that it is feared that some of these children are being exploited by criminal gangs, due to the often close ties between human smugglers, who facilitate travel for around 90% of the migrants, and criminal networks.
“These children may be sexually exploited, used for begging or forced to commit crimes. However, children may also disappear in search of friends or family in other EU countries or out of sheer desperation caused by cumbersome asylum procedures or detention in reception centers,” a briefing said.
According to the UNHCR, 35 percent of migrants entering the EU since 1 January 2016 are children. Many travel unaccompanied by an adult. In 2015, 85,482 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in the EU, which was three times the 2014 figure. Half of them were from Afghanistan, and 13 percent from Syria.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160422/1038451270/europe-missing-refugee-children.html#ixzz46ZA5VSpR