MOSCOW, July 4. /TASS/. Moscow notes that contacts between the Russian, US and Jordanian militaries in the monitoring center in Syria’s southern de-escalation zone are useful, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday opening talks with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi.

According to the Russian minister, the Syrian issue will top the agenda of his talks with Safadi. "We note the continuing useful contacts between our military, the military of Jordan, the US military within the framework of the monitoring center mechanism in the southern de-escalation zone created in Amman," he noted.

"We also appreciate Jordan’s role as an observer in the Astana process. Another meeting as part of this process is scheduled for the end of this month," Lavrov added.

The top Russian diplomat invited his Jordanian counterpart to discuss the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement and some regional issues.

In July 2017, Russia, Jordan and the US reached an agreement on setting up a de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria, which included that country’s three most important southern provinces, namely, Daraa, Quneitra and As-Suwayda.

On August 23, 2017, the joint monitoring center began its work in Amman to monitor compliance with the cessation of hostilities, ensure unrestricted humanitarian access and medical assistance to the population in the southern de-escalation zone.

The situation there has deteriorated in recent months. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, attempts have been made in the Daraa area by the Syrian opposition, the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra extremist groups (both outlawed in Russia) backed by the US to create an autonomy in southern Syria, which could lead to the country’s break-up.