Jordan expects invitation to Russia-hosted meeting on Syria

AMMAN – Jordan expects to be invited to attend an international contact group on the Syrian crisis set to be held in Moscow this month, an official source said Thursday.

On Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Russian news agency, RIA Novosti, that a contact group that includes Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Egypt may meet in Moscow this month to discuss the Syrian crisis, adding that other regional players may also be invited. 

The Russian official said the level of participation in the meeting has not yet been determined. 

Commenting on the remarks of Bogdanov, the official source told The Jordan Times Thursday that Jordan is an essential party to any discussions related to Syria, indicating that Moscow is expected to invite the Kingdom to take part in the conference. 

“We enjoy good ties with the Russians, who realise that Jordan is a voice of reason in the debate over Syria,” said the official, who preferred to remain unnamed. 

Officials at the Russian embassy in Amman could not be reached to comment on the issue despite several attempts by The Jordan Times.