Russian Defense Ministry Sends 2 Notes To Pentagon Over INF Treaty, Kurdish-Arab Tensions In US-controlled Part Of Syria
Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu send 2 notes to Pentagon chief James Mattis but the Pentagon over the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty issue and Kuridsh-Arab tensions in the US-controlled area in northeastern Syria, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov told reporters on December 15.
The first note adressed the current situation in northeastern Syria and “expressed deep concern about growing tensions between the Kurds and Arabs in the US-controlled areas east of the Euphrates River.”
It note said that the US-supported “autonomous administration” had achieved progress neither at the political level nor in the restoration of peaceful life. The message added that oil smuggling from the US-controlled areas negatively affected the Syrian economy’s reconstruction prospects.
“Two thousand militants still control nine settlements located along the east bank of the Euphrates River, while at least 1,500 civilians have been killed there in the US-led coalition’s airstrikes,” Konashenkoiv stressed. He added that judging by the Syrian army’s experience, such an area could be liberated in no more than two weeks.
“In the second message, the Russian defense minister suggested discussing the differences in the two countries’ positions on compliance conditions of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty,” Konashenkov said adding that the move highlighted the Russian Defense Ministry’s readiness “for open and specific dialogue with the Pentagon on all the pressing issues on bilateral agenda.”
https://southfront.org/russian-defense-ministry-sends-2-notes-to-pentagon-over-inf-treaty-kurdish-arab-tensions-in-us-controlled-part-of-syria/