Russia, US coordinating anti-terror efforts to help Syrian army - Russian diplomat

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russia and the United States are in close contact to coordinate their anti-terrorist efforts in Syria to help the Syrian army act maximum efficiently "on the ground," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and presidential envoy for the Middle East and African countries Mikhail Bogdanov said on Monday. "Close contacts and coordination are maintained between the Russian and U.S. military, both in Geneva and in Amman. They exchange information and coordinate approaches to ensure maximum efficient anti-terrorism efforts," he said. "We proceed from the fact that the key force to rebuff terrorists ‘on the ground’ both in Syria and Iraq is the regular army of these countries. Whereas we, like the Americans, are taking part in the anti-terrorist efforts from the air, helping those on the ground act maximally efficiently," Bogdanov added. The ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO world heritage site, was liberated on March 27 from terrorists by the Syrian government army and self-defense forces with support from the Russian air group. Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in early March that officers of the U.S. reconciliation center in Amman maintain professional contact with the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties at the Khemimim air base. The Russian and the U.S. military get in touch every two hours, he said. Read more