MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. Differences on fundamental approaches as to who could be listed among terrorists prevent work on drawing up a general list of terrorist groups operating in Syria, a senior Russian diplomat told TASS on Tuesday.
In line with the decision of the International Syria Support Group, Jordan was tasked with making up the list, Igor Rogov, director of the Foreign Ministry’s department for new challenges and threats, said.
"Jordanian colleagues have managed to consolidate countries’ proposals on putting this or that terrorist group on the list," he noted. "They did not go any further, but this can hardly be seen as their fault - fundamental approaches of the states to who could be listed among terrorists among groups and organizations active in Syria and in the region of the Middle East and North Africa on the whole, are different," he said.
"We are not ready to agree with some proposals of our partners in this respect. Our suggestions that we see fully reasonable and considered are not accepted by all either," he said with regret. "We continue this work, not only in the formats of cooperation around the Syrian problem, but also in the main in these issues format - the United Nations," Rogov said.
He also focused on prospects to put on the UN Security Council list Jaysh al-Islam and Ahrar ash-Sham, saying these organizations use terrorist methods, are to blame for attacks, including on Russian missions, regularly violate the cessation of hostilities regime in Syria and have stable and confirmed ties with the generally recognized terrorist groups, first of all Jabhat al-Nusra. "We suggested putting the above groups on the Al-Qaeda (now also IS) sanctions list of the UN Security Council," he said.
"Western states have blocked our proposals so far, and this clearly impedes efficient fight against terrorists, but we will continue our efforts, given security interests of Russia and its citizens, as well as with an aim of protecting the global community against terrorism," the diplomat went on.
"With facts on hands we work with our foreign partners to see them acknowledge clear terrorist danger from the above groups," the diplomat said, expressing hope that Russia’s efforts and cooperation in the UN Security Council could help end work on the list of terrorist groups.