MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russia will continue to help Damascus in the anti-terrorist operation near Palmyra, Russian president’s envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS on Sunday.
"We will help," he stressed. "The task is to exterminate Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State (both outlawed in Russia as terrorist organizations) seats of terrorism."
He noted that "coordination in a broader format, including with the U.S.-led coalition in important" on such issues.
According to Bogdanov, the Russian leaders noted that what has happened in Palmyra exposed the lack of due coordination. "So, it is necessary to establish this coordination to receive more efficient results. All need these results," he said, adding that recurrences of terrorism in Jordan, Turkey and other countries prove his words.
"We hope Turkey’s leadership has already understood that more close cooperation is needed. And then we will have a result with will be of major importance for all our countries and the international community in general," he underscored.
Resumption of intra-Syrian talks is realistic task
Resumption of talks between the Syrian government and the opposition is quite a realistic task, said Bogdanov.
"I think it is quite real," he said, adding that the Russia has already said that contacts are maintained "with an eye of possible organization of such intra-Syrian talks in Astana."
"Let us wait relevant invitations from Kazakhstan," he stressed.
"Astana has already hosted meetings between representatives of Syria’s liberal democratic, patriotic opposition," he said. "So, Kazakhstan has certain experience. Astana may play a good role in this process."
The Turkish side "is not against this idea," he added.