President Obama seems to be trying to get a reading on Russian

President Vladimir Putin, at the G20 Summit in Mexico, June 19.

Obama Offers Putin End Game Commitment on Syria (La Stampa, Italy)

“The White House played many cards to soften Putin’s opposition during the two hour talk. First, as a sign of regard, the meeting took place where Putin stayed during the summit. Obama also sought the aid of body language, repeatedly patting Putin on the shoulder as a sign of comradery ... But, above all, Obama played the card of recognizing the importance of Russian-Syrian relations. Although not stated explicitly, this means that Moscow will be allowed to keep its military base in the Syrian port of Tartus. “

By Maurizio Molinari

Translated By Rinald Meta

June 20, 2012

Italy - La Stampa - Original Article (Italian)

Los Cabos: Syria was the main attraction at the first meeting between Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin since Putin’s re-election, which ended with a compromise summarized in the text of a joint statement. Obama got Putin’s support for a “political transition to a democratic, pluralistic political system that would be implemented by the Syrians themselves in the framework of Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity,” while Putin joined in calls for “an immediate cessation of the violence,” which is important to Moscow because it suggests equivalence between the responsibilities of Assad’s regime and the rebels.

On the whole, the point of agreement between the two superpowers can be summarized by the phrase “full support of the Kofi Annan plan,” which Putin had already offered in Moscow in May, and which gave the green light to the deployment of U.N. observers. Although the ten lines of the joint communiqué dedicated to the Syria issue seem drafted with great difficulty, what matters to the White House is that Putin has agreed to sign a document in which the hope is expressed that “the Syrian people should have the opportunity to independently and democratically choose their own future,” thus taking a step away from Assad.

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For Washington, this is a first step toward bringing Russia into the fold on the Syrian crisis. Ben Rhodes, an Obama strategic advisor, suggests that, “what matters is that Putin’s decision acknowledges the need for a political process to resolve the crisis, and we have reached this result through a frank exchange” that saw the two leaders exhibit opposing positions. The White House played many cards to soften Putin’s opposition during the two hour talk. First of all, as a sign of regard for the newly-elected president, the meeting took place where Putin stayed during the summit - the Hotel Esperanza in Los Cabos. Obama also sought the aid of body language, repeatedly patting Putin on the shoulder as a sign of comradery. Moreover, the issue of Syria was included within the context of reaffirming their partnership in many areas of cooperation: opposition to Iran’s nuclear program, North Korea missiles, nuclear disarmament, the Middle East peace process, the growth in economic relations, the fight against terrorism and stabilizing Afghanistan. But, above all, Obama played the card of recognizing the importance of Russian-Syrian relations. In other words, he said would have nothing against this alliance even in a post-Assad phase.  

Posted by Worldmeets.US

Although not stated explicitly, this means that Moscow will be allowed to keep its military base in the Syrian port of Tartus. And this is precisely what the Kremlin cares most about, since this is the only friendly port its Mediterranean fleet has left. We must wait and see if the compromise on the Annan peace plan can go along with Putin's desire to heighten his profile in the Middle East, a notion confirmed by the two warships laden with troops arriving in Tartus, and others ready to depart for Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Not to mention the fact that the communiqué fails to mention the planned missile defense shield in Europe, which remains a central bone of contention between Moscow and Washington.