Christopher Walker: Russia Syria military withdrawal to help peace
Christopher Walker, an ex-Moscow correspondent of The Times, was interviewed by Press TV on the withdrawal of Russia’s military forces from Syria.
The following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: Give us your analysis of the Russian troops’ withdrawal from Syria.
Walker: I think it is a major diplomatic surprise to ... most people and most countries on the up. Mr. Putin has seized the advantage once again over the Western allies who are also fighting in Syria and he has thrown down, really, a gauntlet as it were of peace. He has shown himself to be capable of taking a quite strong peaceful gesture at the time that the Geneva talks are beginning slowly slowly to start inching forward. So in every way I think it is a plus-plus for Putin and in the West it is also being welcomed, but there is a slight doubt about what might make the Russians go back again if the current ceasefire breaks down. But on the whole, it is this one of those rare good days in Syria, which have been so few in the last five years.
Press TV: This action by Russia will most likely be seen in continuation of the peace process and the talks that are going on Syria but of course should it be required the bombings will continue against the terrorists and Takfiri groups in Syria?
Walker: Yes that is clearly what is being stated and is expected. Do not forget that those bombings against particularly ISIS never stopped under the peace deal. The Russians never stopped doing this. So they would claim that they are just continuing with the status quo there, but pulling out these soldiers it makes extremely dramatic television broadcast live the pullout in Moscow this morning. So it also helps Mr. Putin at home, because that operation that he has been conducting in Syria was not cheap and the Russian economy at the moment is in a pretty doddery state. So in a way he is helping his image in the world and at the same time helping the Kremlin coffers from draining further.
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