Russia presses EU to pay up for rebuilding Syria

The Europeans have already shouldered the financial burden of 6 million Syrian refugees while Russia supported Assad. I think I'd tell Russia to pound sand. What is Trump saying?

Or they could get $200 Billion the Assad family has and start with that to rebuild Syria.

Michael Peel in Brussels YESTERDAY A top Russian diplomat has urged the EU to launch reconstruction efforts in Syria within months, escalating a row over who should foot the bill for rebuilding the nation as President Bashar al-Assad reasserts his control. Vladimir Chizhov, Russia’s representative to the EU, told the Financial Times that European states would “bear the responsibility” if they failed to recognise that it was “high time” to back a programme likely to cost “dozens of billions” of euros.

His comments are part of Moscow’s efforts to exploit Europe’s growing dilemma over how it can spend money to stem the flow of Syrian refugees without appearing to boost the regime in Damascus.

The tensions over the issue have been rising as Moscow, which backs the Syrian government, has gained increasing sway over the peace process to end the near seven-year conflict. European diplomats acknowledge the potential for divisions in the bloc over Syria. Countries hosting millions of Syrians, such as Turkey and Lebanon, have been pressing the EU to help ease their refugee burdens.

But European officials bristle at what they see as attempts by Moscow to force Europe to pick up the tab for Russia, whose fighter jets took part in the bombardment of rebel-held areas such as Aleppo. Syrian activists said last week that Russian warplanes were involved in bombing Eastern Ghouta, a besieged rebel-controlled area near Damascus, where recent fighting has killed dozens of people. Russia intervened militarily in the conflict in 2015 and tilted the balance of the war in the Syrian government’s favour as the rebels were driven from their urban strongholds. Moscow is now keen to secure a political process and halt its military operations in the Arab nation.

President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected visit to the country last month to declare Russia’s mission accomplished. Recommended Syrian Kurds turn to Arab women to cement hold on power Opinion: Putin won the Syria war, but can he keep the peace? Special report: Lebanon’s bankers see reconstruction role in Syria But big EU states have insisted reconstruction funding will only flow after there is a peace agreement with a political transition process in place. “At the moment it’s in the EU’s interests to increase pressure on Russia by not putting any money in,” said one European diplomat familiar with Syria policy. “The fact that the Russians are getting upset shows that the pressure is beginning to tell.”

The EU says it and its members are by far the largest donors of Syrian crisis relief so far, with more than €10bn allocated in humanitarian and development assistance. It says it is also “preparing the ground for the international community to start looking into the postwar reconstruction of Syria”. Still, Mr Chizhov said European states should be moving beyond just providing humanitarian assistance. “The EU wants to see political transition first, but in the meantime people are suffering,” he said. “So we believe that it’s high time to go beyond staple humanitarian aid to something more substantial.”

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https://www.ft.com/content/21483e5c-f22a-11e7-b220-857e26d1aca4

 

Don't you think the Assad family should use their money to rebuild Syria or at least remimburse the Europeans for sheltering 6 million refugees?

 

Duplicate.

 

This is the absolute best idea!

 

Has Putin asked Trump to pay to rebuild Syria?

 

What the hell s wrong with that Putin anus head! Mexico will pay to fix up Syria !! Don't that Putin guy know nutin!

 

This is Syria's and Russia's bed, they made it, they can lie in it.

 

I agree. This war has cost Assad NOTHING.. and now he wants to the EU to rebuild his country.

The Russians should pay for it, or Iran or the Assad family.

 

If it wasn't for Russia, Syria would have been overrun. Their hard handed tactics is what caused all the destruction, the use of chemical weapons et al, this is their issue.

 

Thank you.. ..

 

I want to hear what Trump has to say. He's been oddly silent on Syria.

 

I want to hear what Trump has to say. He's been oddly silent on Syria.

 

Putin and his buddies have probably scraped enough money off the top of Russia's economy to pay for it by themselves.

 

Celebrity Net Worth says Putin earns a salary of $187,000 a year as president, and has a net worth of $70 billion as of April 2017. His ownership stakes in major gas and oil companies have heavily contributed to his net worth. Use this net worth calculator to see how you stack up against Vladimir Putin.Apr 27, 2017
Vladimir Putin Net Worth | Bankrate.com

https://www.bankrate.com/lifestyle/celebrity-money/vladimir-putin-net-worth/

 

He better not use US tax payer money to help.

 

He basically stole from all his political adversaries to obtain that wealth.

 

I hope he won't.. so weird that Trump hasn't uttered a peep about this.

 

Have you ever watched the PBS program called "Putin's Way"? He sure has made himself rich. 70 Billion is a conservative estimate.

I am just puzzled why Trump has gone completely silent on this.. Do you suppose he's afraid of Putin?

 

Why?

 

Ha! If I know Trump, he won't pay a nickel to rebuild Syria, unless maybe Syria throws out the Russians, gives us their navy base, and signs a peace treaty with the Israelis ceding the Golan Heights to Israel.

Yeah, then he might think about it.

So I would say, fat chance.

 

Why? Because Trump is everywhere.. reacting, tweeting, lashing out.. If Putin wants the Europeans to pay to rebuild Syria, why hasn't he also asked the US?

 

Maybe, or he may just hide.

 

US - Saud - Yemen and the others who were arming the rebel opposition should pay for the mess that they made.

 

It's their pet project, they should pay to rebuild. It's ironic they don't want to pay when everyone else paid to rebuild Europe after their 2 world wars. They need to suck it up and pay.

 

Premature as the civil war is far from over and huge parts of Syria are in Kurdish hands (with US backing)...and they don't seem anxious to give it back. And Turkish areas are still in the mix.
Plus, there are still lots of areas in rebel/ISIS hands.

As for the refugees? I never agreed with them leaving in the first place. The West should have established a secure, refugee zone in Syria and had the UN/NATO guard it militarily and pay (along with charities/donations) to house/feed whatever refugees needed help.
Them the refugees could have easily gone home when the conflict was over.

As for rebuilding? Best to wait until all the hostilities are over. But I assume Assad will have to rebuild areas he controls and the Kurds rebuild the areas they refuse to leave.