https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201705051053327978-syria-observation-points-calculated/
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian troops in Syria under the leadership of the General Staff are estimating the number of necessary observation points, which will be established in the Syrian safe zones, chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Directorate Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said Friday.
"The Russian military group under the leadership of the General Staff is currently calculating the necessary number of check and observation points, as well as means to provide their activity," Rudskoy told reporters.
According to Rudskoy, the activity of these check and observation points, as well as the management of the safe zones will be carried out by military personnel from Russia, Turkey and Iran. Third parties may be attracted in case of mutual arrangements between the Syrian ceasefire guarantor states.
The guarantor states will create a joint working group in two weeks, which will present the exact borders of the safe zones and security lines by June 4, Rudskoy added. Maps dissociating formations of armed opposition from terrorist groups will also be presented.
Representatives of the countries-guarantors of the truce in Syria signed on Thursday a memorandum on the creation of four zones of de-escalation in the state, which include the province of Idlib and seven other regions.
On Thursday, the US State Department announced that it “appreciates” the efforts of Turkey and Russia for brokering the deal.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, a phone call between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson provided a platform for both sides to discuss the situation in Syria and the prospect of establishing peace.
"The sides discussed the de-escalation for the situation in that country, stabilizing the ceasefire regime, increasing anti-terrorism efforts, and intensifying external assistance to the inter-Syrian negotiation process," the ministry said May 5.
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https://sputniknews.com/politics/201705061053332182-pentagon-cold-war-obsessions-blinded/'
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman slammed the Pentagon on Saturday for failing to identify security risks after the US special operations chief called Russia one of the country’s five military threats.
"This fixation of some Pentagon generals on Cold War stereotypes and their lack of awareness of real security risks are nothing new to us," Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.
Gen. Raymond Thomas, who heads the US Special Operations Command, identified Russia as one of five "current and enduring" threats to the United States, in a testimony to parliament in March. He said the four other threats were North Korea, Iran, China, and terrorism.