Jordan, Russia share views on anti-terrorism efforts — ambassador

AMMAN — Military and security coordination between Moscow and Amman regarding the situation in Syria is based on their mutual support for a political solution and fighting terrorism, Russian Ambassador to Jordan Boris Bolotin said Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists, the diplomat highlighted “closeness” in the stances of the two countries towards fighting terrorism, adding that worldwide collaboration is necessary for eradicating terrorism, which has struck Jordan, Russia and Germany over the past few days.

The terrorist attacks in Karak Governorate, around 140km south of Amman, this week, which killed a number of security officers and civilians, as well as the killing of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, show the need to collaborate in fighting terrorism, which is “the largest challenge to the international community”, Bolotin said.

Communications between Jordanian and Russian military apparatuses are ongoing, he added, based on the agreement of the leaderships of the two countries, said the diplomat, who clarified that coordination is not carried out through an operations room per se.

While Bolotin criticised “incorrect and inaccurate” news about Russia’s military operations in Syria, he said Moscow has committed to the truce in Aleppo “since October 8”. 

“Russia delivers humanitarian aid to Aleppo residents every day,” he added, highlighting joint efforts with Iran and Turkey to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from the eastern parts of the city.

Bolotin expressed his country’s “constant willingness” to cooperate with the US to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

“There is still a possibility for a political solution that the Syrian regime and resistance factions can agree on, yet resistance groups are heavily divided and some of them are holding on to the military solution,” he said.