U.S. Talks Begin with Russia, Syria, and Iran-- Cautious Hope, Signs of Change

The United States—and President Barack Obama—may be on the way to breaking a long-standing ice-jam in diplomatic relations with our adversaries. PNA is cautiously optimistic that, with proper nurturing, these overtures can turn into real U.S. diplomatic success, and over time lead to stabilizing relations in the Middle East and Central Asia. We welcome these long-overdue developments. Here are some signs of hope:

➢ 1. U.S. and Russia, Hit “Re-Set” on Relations and Nuclear Weapons

The New York Times reports that President Obama will visit Moscow in July, and his London meeting with President Dmitri Medvedev has already led to a detailed, four-page U.S.-Russia negotiations framework on nuclear weapons.

For the text of the US-Russia statement, as transcribed by Federal News Radio, go to

US-Russia Statement

Released by the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, Presidents Obama and Medvedev stated:

“Reaffirming that the era when our countries viewed each other as enemies is long over, and recognizing our many common interests, we today established a substantive agenda for Russia and the United States to be developed over the coming months and years. We discussed measures to overcome the effects of the global economic crisis, strengthen the international monetary and financial system, … and advance regulatory efforts to ensure that such a crisis does not happen again.

We also discussed nuclear arms control and reduction.

As leaders of the two largest nuclear weapons states, we agreed to work together to fulfill our obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and demonstrate leadership in reducing the number of nuclear weapons in the world. We committed our two countries to achieving a nuclear-free world, while recognizing that this long-term goal will require a new emphasis on arms control and conflict resolution measures…. We agreed to pursue new and verifiable reductions in our strategic offensive arsenals in a step-by-step process, beginning by replacing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with a new, legally binding treaty. We are instructing our negotiators to start talks immediately on this new treaty and to report on results achieved in working out the new agreement by July.”

PNA is especially heartened that they cited the NPT, with its good faith negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons, and have set an ambitious goal on a new US-Russia treaty for deep cuts. The setting of specific timetables shows that both sides are serious about these cuts, which can be an example for smaller nuclear powers.

➢ U.S. and Syria

In the April 6 New Yorker, Pulitzer-prize-winning reporter Seymour Hersh discloses back-channel talks involving the U.S., Syria, Turkey, and Israel. If successful, these talks can be a foundation for Middle East peace, elusive for so long. A few intriguing quotes from Sy Hersh’s Syria Calling—The Obama Administration’s chance to engage in Middle East peace:

Syria’s Pres. Bashar Assad: “We are happy that he (Obama) has said that diplomacy- and not war- is the means of conducting international policy.” Considering negotiations with Israel, it is “essential that the United States play a prominent and active role in the peace process.”

Martin Indyk, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel: “There is a deep divergence between Iran and Syria, captured in the fact that at the same time as Iran’s president threatens to wipe Israel off the map, his Syrian ally is attempting to make peace with Israel…Should negotiations yield a peace agreement, it would likely cause the breakup of the Iranian-Syrian axis.”

Khaled Meshal, leader of Hamas, “”If we suppose that Israel is serious, we support the right of Syria to negotiate with Israel to attain its legitimate rights.” Itamar Rabinovich, former Israeli Ambassador to Washington, “Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel) would prefer to make a deal with Syria rather than with the Palestinians.”

Former American diplomat: “There are a lot of people going back and forth to Damascus from Washington saying there is low-hanging fruit waiting for someone to harvest.”

Senator John Kerry: “ Our latest conversation (with Syria) gave me a greater sense that Assad is willing to engage positively with Iraq, and have direct discussions with Israel over the Golan Heights- with Americans at the table. I encourage the Administration to take him up on it.”

Essentially, as Hersh reports, “Assad has told the Obama administration that his nation can ease the American withdrawal from Iraq. Syria can also help the U.S. engage with Iran, and the Iranians, in turn, can become an ally in neighboring Afghanistan…”

Syria wants and needs the help of the U.S. in brokering and enforcing a peace deal with Israel, particularly on the issue of the Golan Heights. In turn, Syria can act as a bridge between the United States and Iran, and also possibly Hamas.

➢ U.S.-Iran Relations

As with Syria, there is a window of opportunity here. The same day, March 31, U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke held “a brief but cordial meeting with Iran’s deputy Foreign Minister.” This is the highest level meeting since the former Bush Administration froze all contacts with Iran, a policy that has not worked. PNA encourages Ambassador Holbrooke, Secretary Clinton and the President to see what steps may work, pragmatically. As Sy Hersh notes, Iran may actually provide some help on Afghanistan, where it is a counter-weight to Pakistan and the Taliban.

PNA welcomes the progress the Administration has begun to make on these long-term, critical problems. We hope all Americans will support these efforts, and also write to Congress to re-insert the cuts in the State Department and foreign affairs budget recently made. We need these funds, for this agenda to work. If we must make cuts in this recession, we can do it on the F-22 fighter expansion, unneeded against any current adversary. To link to Syria Calling—The Obama Administration’s chance to engage in Middle East peace:

Syria Calling

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