U.S. and Russian defense officials are holding more talks Wednesday on safety procedures for their crews flying missions over Syria.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday that the discussions are progressing and that he expects an agreement “in very short order” to help prevent a potential mid-air disaster involving U.S. and Russian aircraft.
“Even as we continue to disagree on Syria policy, we should be able to at least agree on making sure that airman are as safe as possible,” Carter said at a news conference in Boston Tuesday. “Russia must act professionally in the skies over Syria and abide by basic safety procedures.”
Russia’s Defense Ministry issued a statement Tuesday saying it had prepared suggestions and was sending a draft to the Americans.
Carter also said the U.S. mission to bomb Islamic State targets in Syria will not change, but he urged the Russians to give up what he called their “failing strategy,” saying it is “wrongheaded and strategically shortsighted.”
Meanwhile, U.N. envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura is pushing a separate effort to get the U.S. and Russia on the same page in working toward a broad political resolution to the crisis in Syria. He met with officials Tuesday in Moscow and is due to hold talks Wednesday in Washington.
Source-VOA
