Putin & Obama agree to ‘work together’

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have agreed to “work together” to find a solution to the crisis in Syria. Obama called Putin on Wednesday and discussed current situation in Syria in particular the escalation of violence in the country, the White House said.

‘The two presidents noted the growing violence in Syria and agreed on the need to support a political transition as soon as possible that achieves our shared goal of ending the violence and avoiding a further deterioration of the situation,’ said the White House in a statement on Wednesday.

Obama and Putin noted the differences the governments have had on Syria, but agreed to have their teams continue to work toward a solution. 

The White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, urged Russia not to support the Assad regime as by doing so it would be considered on the wrong side of history.

‘We are in regular conversation with the Russians, and we’ve made our positions clear. Our point to the Russians and others is that, if you ally with Assad, you’re going to end up on the wrong side of history, and that a continued relationship with Syria and the Syrian people I think depends upon making the right decisions now, because Syria’s future will not include Assad,’ Carney told reporters at a news conference.

 ‘Syrians need to be able to determine their own future in a democratic way, and it is in everyone’s interests in the region and beyond to support a process that allows for that process to take place, that responds to the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people,’ he said.