CHINA-DIPLOMACY/RUSSIA-DEFENCE Russia issues warning on Islamic State in Afghanistan

Record ID: 135433

  • Title: CHINA-DIPLOMACY/RUSSIA-DEFENCE Russia issues warning on Islamic State in Afghanistan
  • Date: 17th October 2015
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (OCTOBER 17, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** XIANGSHAN FORUM IN PROGRESS RUSSIAN DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER ANATOLY ANTONOV SPEAKING AT PODIUM MEDIA FILMING FORUM (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER, ANATOLY ANTONOV, SAYING: "I agree with Singapore's defence minister, who said no matter how strong the country is, it is impossible to deal with this issue alone. We offered the United States of America an extensive cooperation programme, which would include Syria. Unfortunately, America appeared to not yet be ready for such cooperation. They don't want to call it cooperation, and are limiting contacts to the cooperation between Russian and US defence ministries." MEDIA AND DEFENCE OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER, ANATOLY ANTONOV, SAYING: "The Afghan territory could be used by the Islamic State group to expand further towards the Central Asian republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and towards the Xinjiang and Uighur autonomous regions of China. Given that the international security Forces will be withdrawn from the country, it is not clear if Kabul is able to face this threat alone." FORUM IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAB94BUP86PNP29HSQ3WVR5852Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said on Saturday (October 17) that he was happy to work with the U.S. on Syria, though so far Washington had been lukewarm towards Russia's proposals for cooperation.
    "I agree with Singapore's defence minister, who said no matter how strong the country is, it is impossible to deal with this issue alone. We offered the United States of America an extensive cooperation programme, which would include Syria," Antonov told reporters and defence officials at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing.
    "Unfortunately, America appeared to not yet be ready for such cooperation. They don't want to call it cooperation, and are limiting contacts to the cooperation between Russian and US defence ministries," he added.
    U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday (October 16) the only area of U.S. understanding with Russia on Syria was on how to prevent accidental clashes between their planes engaged in the conflict, but they differed on principles and strategies to bring peace.
    Antonov's comments came as Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the aim of Russia's military operation in Syria was not to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power but to defeat the Islamic State group. While Russia has supported Assad, the U.S. believes he cannot be part of a political solution for the country.
    Russia began air strikes in Syria in late September, in a move which Moscow says is weakening Islamic State militants, but which Western powers say aims to support Assad.
    Antonov also warned that IS militants were planning to expand their activities into Central Asia and that they were using Afghanistan as a base for their attacks.
    "The Afghan territory could be used by the Islamic State group to expand further towards the Central Asian republics of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and towards the Xinjiang and Uighur autonomous regions of China. Given that the International Security Forces will be withdrawn from the country, it is not clear if Kabul is able to face this threat alone," he said.
    Obama this week dropped plans for a radical reduction in U.S. forces next year, which was greeted with relief by the administration in Kabul, which had feared being abandoned by its most powerful ally.
    Afghan forces, who took over from international troops after NATO ended most combat operations last year, have struggled to contain a spreading Taliban insurgency and remain dependent on allies for air and logistical support.
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