Al-Moallem: There is full coordination between Syria and Russia on counterterrorism

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem stressed on Wednesday that there is full coordination between Syria and Russia in all matters related to combating terrorism, noting that in less than two months, the Russian Air Force had outdone by hundred times the US-led coalition against terrorism over 18 months.

Al-Moallem explained during a meeting with Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Naryshkin that in cooperation between the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Arab Army, more than a thousand tankers of stolen Syrian oil, hundreds of fuel tanks, depots and command centers for terrorists in different Syrian provinces were destroyed, while the 6000 sorties which were carried out by the United States and its allies over 18 months didn’t cause any weakening of ISIS terrorist organization.

Al-Moallem pointed out that the Syrian-Russian joint efforts in eliminating ISIS and other terrorist organizations have angered the Turkish leadership which mounted a flagrant aggression on Syrian sovereignty by shooting down the Russian aircraft over the Syrian territory, considering that such behavior was not a surprise as Turkish government has been plotting against Syria.

Al-Moallem expressed Syria’s thanks to the Russian people, leadership and President Vladimir Putin for their support to Syria in its fight against international terrorism.

Al-Moallem said that cooperation and coordination between the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Arab Army have inflicted heavy losses upon terrorists.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he added, has been displeased with the progress made by the Syrian Arab Army with support of the Russian Air Force since this advance on the ground dispels his dreams in northwest Syria and shows to the whole world Erdogan’s support for terrorist organizations.

Al-Moallem also expressed solidarity with the Russian friends and deep regret over the shooting down of the Russian aircraft, describing this incident as a war crime.

In turn, Naryshkin said that the situation in Syria is among Russia’s top priorities and the focus of the attention of the Russian parliamentarians and society.

Naryshkin added that Russia has always stood alongside Syria and that the Russian Duma Council unanimously issued a statement confirming support for the Syrian government and people in the face of international aggression and opposed the use of military force on its territory.

Naryshkin noted that both the Russian Duma and Federation Councils have recently held a joint session that addressed the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on the developments of the situation in Syria and combating terrorism together with the Syrian government.

Naryshkin said that Russia is eager to restore peace in Syria including the restoration of the political track and launching a Syrian- Syrian dialogue, stressing that the only the Syrian people have the right to self-determination away from external interference.

In a meeting with Chairman of the Russian Duma’s International Affairs Committee Alexei Pushkov, al-Moallem reviewed the latest developments in Syria and cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism.