Southern Syria developments top House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting with Russian ambassador

AMMAN — Jordan is keen to maintain the calm in southern Syria, which offers "a solid ground" for future cooperation between the countries, Head of the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee MP Khaldoun Hina said on Tuesday.

During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Gleb Desyatnikov, Hinareferred to the electricity and gas supply lines to Lebanon, which run through Syrian territory. He called it the beginning of the restoration of security and stability in Syria, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He stressed Russia's “key role”to eradicate terrorist groups from southern Syria, calling for a crackdown on smugglers and to not allow any non-Syrian parties to stay close to the Jordanian border.

Hina said that any breakdown on the Jordanian-Syrian border could heat up the situation and result in more chaos that will affect all parties, and this might lead to the return of terrorist organisations.

Members of the committee highlighted the Russia’s key role in the Middle East, and also stressed the need to find a solution to the Palestinian cause.

Desyatnikov said that Moscow recognises the Hashemite custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, and also supports finding a solution to the Palestinian cause under international legitimacy resolutions.

He also said that Russia values Jordan's position advocating for security and stability in Syria and the region at large, voicing his country's readiness to cooperate and work with Jordan to restore Syria's security and stability, especially in the southern parts of Syria.

The Russian envoy expressed his condolences to the Jordanian people over the recent killing of a number of Jordanian Border Guards during clashes with drug smugglers.