Putin: Syria De-Escalation Zones to Help Consolidate Cessation of Hostilities

BEIJING- The establishment of the de-escalation zones in Syria is aimed primarily at consolidating the cessation of hostilities, the reconciliation process in that country is impossible without that, Putin told reporters at a press conference as part of the Belt and Road international economic forum in Beijing, Itar Tass reported.

“I hope very much that this (the creation of de-escalation zones) will be an effective tool, above all, for maintaining the cessation of hostilities,” Putin said. He noted that it is essential now to consolidate the ceasefire, which will be the basis for the subsequent political process. “If the situation evolves in accordance with this scenario, it will be possible to say that we are attaining the goals that have been set. “However, any effective political process, as we all understand, is out of the question without the ceasefire,” the Russian leader added.

 Putin thanked Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev for providing a negotiation venue in Astana where the parties were able to reach an agreement on setting up de-escalation zones in Syria. “However, at the moment it is necessary, and we will be doing that at military level at a meeting in Istanbul or in Ankara. Russia, Iran and Turkey will discuss, naturally, while maintaining permanent dialogue with the Syrian side, the specific boundaries of these de-escalation zones and control elements – how, where and who will control and what,” the Russian president said, adding that these specific issues are up for discussion. “So far, it is early to talk about that in public,” Putin noted.

Anti-terrorism efforts

Putin said Russian-Chinese social and economic development projects were helping to eradicate the root causes of terrorism.

“Of course, the implementation of the plans of social and economic development in the world, in its separate regions should undoubtedly have a favorable effect on the situation in problem areas on our planet,” the Russian leader said.

“This action is precisely aimed at eradicating the root causes that generate terrorism and other similar manifestations,” Putin said.

Russia not the One to Be Afraid of Anything

Russia is not afraid of China as a competitor in the global economy, when cooperating with Beijing, Moscow accepts only what is good for it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said

“Russia is not a country that is afraid of anything, and certainly, China’s actions are not aimed at any kind of absorption. We take decisions together, and we do not take decisions that are harmful to us” We agree only with such proposals that will be good for us,” Putin said.

According to the Russian leader, “it’s a sin not to use” the opportunities that emerge as a result of cooperation with China.

“Russia is a country which is open to cooperation with all countries, and China shows the same openness to the whole world today,” Putin said.

The President said that on the first day of the Belt and Road forum in Beijing he met with representatives of large foreign business, including European ones. According to Putin, foreign businessmen noted that today “China shows greater openness and commitment to an open economy than countries that are always seen as driving forces of the world economy.”

Russia-China trade cooperation

Russia and China are moving in the right direction regarding trade structure optimization, he went on.

“The structure of trade turnover (between Russia and China – TASS) is more important for us,” he said, adding that the partners are “moving in the right direction here.”

According to Putin, the two countries’ trade turnover went up 4% last year, and surged almost 40% in the first 2-3 months of 2017. “This is a very serious positive move ahead,” he said. “The structure has had positive changes over the past 2-3 years,” President said, adding that Russia has raised supplies of cars and agricultural equipment to the Chinese market.

Putin also noted cooperation in space and aviation industries, and highly appreciated the military and technical partnership, saying that “this cooperation is getting more and more advanced.”.

The cooperation between Russia and China on the Power of Siberia natural gas pipeline goes as planned, the president went on.

“The work on the Power of Siberia is going absolutely according to the schedule, there are no price disputes here, almost everything has been settled,” Putin said. “In this regard we feel secure and confident. Frankly speaking, we’re not even scared with prices as we’ll solve all problems filling (gaps) with volumes,” he added.

H.M