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             US, European Powers React to Russian Strikes in Syria

   by Pamela Dockins

   Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. would have "grave concerns"
   about Russian airstrikes in parts of Syria where Islamic State or
   al-Qaida-affiliated militants are not operating.

   He commented at a Russian-hosted U.N. counterterrorism forum Wednesday
   that took place after Moscow launched airstrikes in Syria's Homs
   region.

   "Strikes of those kind would question if Russia's real intentions are
   fighting ISIL [Islamic State] or protecting the Assad regime," Kerry
   said about reports that the Russian airstrikes targeted areas where the
   Islamic State was present.

   For weeks, Russia has been moving aircraft and other military equipment
   into Syria in what appears to be a stepped-up effort to help the Syrian
   regime.

   The move has put Russia at odds with the U.S. and other world powers
   that believe a political transition is needed in Syria to help resolve
   the country's civil unrest.

   Russia, Syria defend Moscow's role

   Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended his country's actions
   in Syria as he chaired a U.N. Security Council meeting on countering
   terrorism Wednesday.

   He said Russia had informed other states of its intentions to carry out
   airstrikes in Syria.

   He also said Moscow is ready to "forge standing channels of
   communications" to ensure a "maximally effective fight" against
   militants, adding that Iran and Russia are among countries that could
   play a role in that effort.

   Lavrov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a U.N.
   measure that called for coordinating "all forces" fighting against
   Islamic State and other militant groups.

   During the session, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem praised
   Russia's assistance and criticized the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in
   his country, calling them a "flagrant violation" of Syria's
   sovereignty.

   "Those who truly wish to combat terrorism must coordinate actions with
   the Syrian government," he said.

   European leaders weigh in

   British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Russia would be "well
   aware of the message" that its airstrikes in Syria deliver.

   He told the group that it is important for Russia to be able to confirm
   that its airstrikes were directed at Islamic State or al-Qaida
   affiliates and "not at moderate opponents of the Assad regime."

   During a U.N. news conference, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius
   laid out what he said are the "conditions for effectiveness" for being
   part of the coalition against Islamic State.

   Those conditions, he said, include directing strikes only against the
   Islamic State and other militants - and not the moderate Syrian
   opposition.

   "We need to check whether the Russian strikes that took place today
   respect this first condition," he said.

   He also called for an end to the "absolutely catastrophic" bombings
   against Syrian civilians.

   "It is this violence that is being led by Bashar al-Assad that is
   prompting extremism and the flow of refugees," said Fabius.

   The U.S. and some European powers have said they would consider using
   the P5+1 structure that negotiated the Iran nuclear deal to address
   Syria's crisis. The P5+1 consists of the five permanent members of the
   U.N. Security Council and Germany.

   US lawmakers react

   Members of the U.S. Congress also have weighed in on Russia's
   stepped-up military actions in Syria.

   Republican Senator John McCain laid blame with President Barack Obama's
   administration.

   "This administration has confused our friends, encouraged our enemies
   and mistaken an excess of caution for prudence and replaced the risks
   of action with the perils of inaction, said McCain, chairmen of the
   Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

   He said into the "wreckage" of the Obama administration's Middle East
   policy, "has now stepped Vladimir Putin."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-european-powers-react-to-russian-s
   trikes-in-syria/2986273.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-european-powers-react-to-russian-strikes-in-syria/2986273.html