U.S. to open ‘lines of communication’ with Russia over strikes in Syria

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Wednesday 30 Sep 2015 - 13:00 Makkah mean time-17-12-1436 Google image Washington (IINA) – The United States will open “lines of communication” with Russia to avoid “misjudgment and miscalculation” as a US-led coalition conducts strikes against ISIS in Syria while Moscow is assisting government forces in their fight against the terror group, Russia Today (RT) reported. “This morning, (Defense) Secretary (Ashton) Carter directed his staff to open lines of communication with Russia on de-confliction,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a press briefing. “The purpose of these de-confliction discussions will be to ensure that ongoing coalition air operations are not interrupted by any future Russian military activity, to ensure the safety of coalition air crew and to avoid misjudgment and miscalculation,” Cook said. Defense Department officials have been ordered to work out the details of conversations with Russia “in the coming days.” “We expect the details of those conversations, including the exact timing of those conversations, will be worked out in the coming day," Cook told reporters. The importance of clear communication between Moscow and Washington has increased recently as Russia is readying to launch its own air strikes against ISIS, independently of the US-led coalition. Despite there being major disagreements between Russia and the US on possible solutions to the conflict in Syria, both sides have agreed that collaboration on the issue is possible and should be explored. Speaking at the General Assembly, President Putin stressed that the participation of the Russian military in a ground operation in Syria was out of question. In his address to the General Assembly, President Obama said that the U.S. is willing to work with Russia and Iran to solve Syrian crisis as the U.S. “by itself, cannot impose stability on a foreign land, unless we work with other nations”. AB/IINA