Obama Says Syria Safe Zones Won't Work as Merkel Backs the Idea
- U.S. leader says it `requires a big military commitment'
- German counterpart says zones should grow out of peace talks
President Barack Obama walks off Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on April 25, 2016, in Maryland.
Photographer: Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
U.S. President Barack Obama reaffirmed his doubts about creating "safe zones" for refugees in Syria, even as German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood by the idea as part of a negotiations to halt the five-year civil war.
While Obama and Merkel sought to smooth over any differences at a news conference in Hanover, Germany, on Sunday, the proposal for such a protected zone has been a persistent difference between the close allies.