Moscow refutes reports that Russia, US agreed to share intel on ISIS
Russia has refuted media reports that Washington and Moscow have agreed to share intelligence on Islamic State terrorists. The news reports followed Wednesday talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry.
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Following the Paris talks, the counterparts held separate media
conferences.
Reports suggested that the two officials agreed that their
countries would share intelligence on Islamic State militants in
Syria and Iraq, and Russia's participation in training and
advising Iraqi security forces.
On Friday, Russia’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying
that “such issues were raised by US Secretary John
Kerry.”
Lavrov stressed that Russia has been consistently fighting
terrorism and providing assistance to other countries in the face
of the terrorist threat, and will continue its aid to Syria,
Iraq, and other countries in the region to strengthen their
combat capabilities in the fight against the extremists.
However, the ministry’s statement added that Russia “will not
be involved in any ‘coalitions’ set up in bypass of the UN
Security Council and in violation of international law.”
Kerry’s attention was also drawn to the fact that within the
framework of the Russia-US Bilateral Presidential Commission,
there was a counter-terror group which was aimed at improving the
communication and cooperation between the two governments
regarding terror threats.
But the mutually beneficial exchange of information was suspended
in 2014 by the US, the ministry reminded.
Nevertheless, Kerry stressed on Wednesday the importance of
cooperation in a wide range of issues, including
counter-terrorism, saying that “we have major
responsibilities together.”
“In our discussions today I suggested Foreign Minister Lavrov
that we intensify intelligence cooperation in respect ISIL and
other counter-terrorism issues of the region and we agreed to do
so. We also agreed to explore whether Russia could do more to
support Iraqi security forces and FM indeed acknowledged their
preparedness to help with respect to arms, weapons…they are doing
that now and they already have provided some, and with also
potentially training and advising aspects,” Kerry said.
In a separate statement that summed up their meeting, Lavrov said
that "we can cooperate better together” especially in
issues concerning “the fight against terrorism, which has now
become the main threat to the whole Mideast." However, the
Russian FM did not specify the details of such cooperation.
Tensions between Moscow and Washington have increased as a result
of the Ukrainian crisis. The US and EU imposed a round of
sanctions on Moscow, claiming that Crimea's accession to Russia
in March was illegal.
READ MORE: Biden says US 'embarrassed' EU into sanctioning Russia over Ukraine
IS militants have gained momentum by capturing vast territories in Syria and Iraq. A US-led coalition launched airstrikes on the jihadists’ positions in Syria in September without a UN Security Council resolution. This was in addition to the US airstrikes that had been carried out in Iraq since August.
