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Children in Nubel, north of Aleppo province in Syria, after the town was released from a long-term siege

Retired German General Praises Russia's Peacekeeping Role in Syria

© Sputnik / Michael Alaeddin

11:49 GMT 12.02.2016(updated 14:27 GMT 12.02.2016) Get short URL

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https://sputniknews.com/world/201602121034639156-russia-syria-peace-process/

By launching an anti-terrorist air campaign in Syria, Moscow added greatly to the beginning of the peace process in the country, according to former chairman of the NATO Military Committee Harald Kujat.

UN Syria envoy Staffan De Mistura's hands holds documents at the United Nations Offices on January 25, 2016 in Geneva during a press conference on efforts to restart peace talks.

© AFP 2020 / Fabrice Coffrini

Kremlin Strikes Back at Accusations of Syria Peace Talks Failure

In an interview with the German newspaper Passauer Neue Presse, Harald Kujat, a retired German general and former chairman of the NATO Military Committee, heaped praise on Russia's role in the peace talks to resolve the Syrian crisis.

"Only Russia's military interference made it possible to start the peace process [on Syria]," Kujat said.

According to him, the Syrian crisis was in a state of stagnation because no one had any "strategy for peaceful settlement", and neither the US nor the EU was prepared to conduct large-scale activity.

In this photo taken on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, a Russian pilot fixes an air-to-air missile at his Su-30 jet fighter before a take off at Hmeimim airbase in Syria.

© AP Photo / Dmitry Steshin, Komsomolskaya Pravda

In this photo taken on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, a Russian pilot fixes an air-to-air missile at his Su-30 jet fighter before a take off at Hmeimim airbase in Syria.

"It was done by Russia, which threw up a window for a political solution," he pointed out.

Kujat noted the Syrian Army was on the verge of defeat in the run-up to the Russian air campaign, and that the army stood to collapse within "only a few weeks" at the time.

He also said that but for Russia, Syria would have collapsed and Daesh terrorists would have seized power in this Arab country.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev

© Sputnik / Alexander Astafyev

Medvedev to Sputnik: Airstrikes Alone Are Not Enough to Defeat Terrorists in Syria

The Geneva peace talks between the Syrian government and representatives of the Syrian opposition began on January 29. On February 9, UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said that the negotiations had been suspended until February 25.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting opposition factions and extremist groups, such as Daesh and the Al-Nusra Front, which are banned in Russia. As for the Russian air campaign, it was launched on September 30, 2015, following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Related:: Lavrov: Turkey Supplies Al Nusra, Jaish Al-Islam Militants in Syria

: Kerry: Agreement Reached on 'Full Cessation of Hostilities' in Syria

: Russia’s PM Medvedev Warns of New War if US, Arab Troops Invade Syria

: Russian Presence in Syria Makes Parties Fight Against Daesh - Stratfor

Tags:

solution, army, strategy, crisis, peace talks, Harald Kujat, Russia, Syria

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