敘叛軍與俄羅斯秘密談判

Syrian rebels are in secret talks with Russia to end the fighting in Aleppo, according to opposition figures, a development that shows how the US could become sidelined in some of the Middle East’s most pivotal conflicts.

據(jù)反對派人士稱，敘利亞反政府武裝正與俄羅斯進(jìn)行秘密談判，以結(jié)束在阿勒頗(Aleppo)的戰(zhàn)斗，這一事態(tài)顯示美國在中東一些最關(guān)鍵的沖突中如何可能受到排擠。

Four opposition members from rebel-held northern Syria told the Financial Times that Turkey has been brokering talks in Ankara with Moscow, whose military intervention on the side of President Bashar al-Assad has helped turn the five-year civil war in the regime’s favour. Russia is now backing regime efforts to recapture the rebel’s last urban stronghold in Syria’s second city of Aleppo.

來自敘利亞北部反政府武裝地盤的四名反對派成員告訴英國《金融時報》，在土耳其的斡旋之下，他們在安卡拉與莫斯科方面談判;俄羅斯為支撐巴沙爾•阿薩德(Bashar al-Assad)總統(tǒng)而進(jìn)行的軍事干預(yù)，使這場五年內(nèi)戰(zhàn)的戰(zhàn)局朝著有利于現(xiàn)政權(quán)的方向轉(zhuǎn)變。目前俄羅斯正在敘利亞第二大城市阿勒頗的戰(zhàn)場上，支持?jǐn)⒗麃喺妸Z回反政府武裝占據(jù)的最后一塊城市地盤。

“The Russians and Turks are talking without the US now. It [Washington] is completely shut out of these talks, and doesn’t even know what’s going on in Ankara,” said one opposition figure, who asked not to be identified.

“俄羅斯人和土耳其人正在沒有美國參與的情況下商談。華盛頓方面被完全排除在這些談判以外，甚至不知道在安卡拉發(fā)生了什么，”要求匿名的一名反對派人士說。

US President Barack Obama’s administration has provided limited training and weaponry for the rebels but had been hesitant to give forceful backing that could turn the tide in the opposition’s favour. President-elect Donald Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly signalled willingness to back Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s efforts to shore up the Assad regime, arguing they are working to stamp out Islamic extremists.

美國總統(tǒng)巴拉克•奧巴馬(Barack Obama)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的行政當(dāng)局為敘利亞反政府武裝提供了有限的訓(xùn)練和武器，但一直不愿給予有力支持，使戰(zhàn)局朝著有利于反對派的方向轉(zhuǎn)變。與此同時，當(dāng)選總統(tǒng)唐納德•特朗普(Donald Trump)多次發(fā)出信號表示，愿意支持俄羅斯領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人弗拉基米爾•普京(Vladimir Putin)扶持阿薩德政權(quán)的努力，辯稱他們正致力于消滅伊斯蘭極端分子。

While the secret contacts are not the first time a rebel representative has met with the Russians, those familiar with the talks said it was the first time such a large number of opposition groups were involved.

雖然上述秘密接觸并不是反政府武裝代表第一次與俄方人員見面，但熟悉會談情況的幾名人士稱，這是首次有多個反對派組織參與會談。

However, the negotiations are riven by the tensions between Ankara and Moscow. Russia confirmed on Wednesday that Mr Putin spoke with Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the Turkish leader said he was seeking Mr Assad’s overthrow. A Turkish official, who asked not to be named, said talks over an Aleppo ceasefire were derailed after Mr Erdogan’s comments caused a Russian delegation to abruptly cut off talks while waiting for Mr Erdogan and Mr Putin to speak.

然而，這些談判也受到安卡拉和莫斯科之間緊張關(guān)系的困擾。俄羅斯周三證實(shí)，在雷杰普•塔伊普•埃爾多安(Recep Tayyip Erdogan)揚(yáng)言要推翻阿薩德之后，普京曾與這位土耳其領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人溝通。一名要求匿名的土耳其官員透露，埃爾多安的言論促使俄羅斯代表團(tuán)當(dāng)場退出談判，等待普京和埃爾多安交談。這個節(jié)外生枝的插曲使阿勒頗停火計劃落空。

Though the talks have made little progress, they underline the shifting political dynamics in the Middle East. Regional actors now seem more willing to bypass Washington to seek out pacts with Russia, which is keen to develop the image of a rising power that can help broker such deals.

雖然談判進(jìn)展不大，但它們突顯了中東不斷變化的政治動態(tài)。該地區(qū)的各股勢力如今似乎更愿意繞過華盛頓，尋求與莫斯科直接打交道，而莫斯科也熱衷于打造一個不斷崛起的大國的形象，能夠幫助撮合此類協(xié)議。

The fierce Russia-backed aerial assault has nearly flattened Aleppo. In the past week regime forces have made steady advances, capturing more than a third of rebel-held districts.

俄羅斯支持的猛烈空中打擊幾乎把阿勒頗夷為平地。在過去一周，政府軍穩(wěn)步推進(jìn)，奪取了三分之一以上的反政府武裝控制區(qū)。

Yaser Alyoussef, spokesman for the Nour al-Din al-Zinki brigades, a rebel group, called the talks “consultations, not negotiations”, adding they were ongoing but had so far been unsuccessful.

反政府組織努爾丁•贊吉運(yùn)動(Nour al-Din al-Zinki)發(fā)言人亞西爾•優(yōu)素福(Yasser al-Youssef)形容此輪會談是“磋商，而不是談判”，他補(bǔ)充稱，會談還在進(jìn)行中，但迄今沒有成功。

“There are consultations with the Russians through Turkish mediation to calm things down and bring in essential goods into the city,” he said. “Even if just a single bag of rice could come in. At this point everything is needed, from food and fuel to medicine.”

“在土耳其方面調(diào)解下，與俄羅斯人進(jìn)行了磋商，以平靜局勢，使必需品能夠運(yùn)入該市。”他說，“即使只有一袋大米可以運(yùn)進(jìn)來。眼下什么都是需要的，從糧食、燃料，到藥品。”

None of those who spoke about the talks would clarify if the rebels met the Russians face-to-face or indirectly, with Turkish officials mediating.

在介紹會談情況的人士中，沒有人愿意澄清敘利亞反政府武裝與俄方人員是面對面交談，還是通過斡旋的土耳其官員傳話。