Military departments of Russia and US are preparing document on aviation interaction during the military operation against the “Islamic State” in Syria

Today during the interview, the Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov stated that military departments of Russia and the US were preparing document on aviation interaction within the military operation against the “Islamic State” in Syria.

“To our regret, the Americans narrow down our cooperation to technical issues of cooperation between our pilots during the assigned missions. The American party gave us a document, which we were working over. The General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces approved the document and now we are working upon its content,” informed Anatoly Antonov.

According to the Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov, this document will be helpful both for the anti-ISIS coalition and the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The Deputy Minister noted that the cooperation between the Russian Defence Ministry and Pentagon had much more opportunities than the Americans had suggested in Moscow concerning the fight against the “Islamic State”.

At the same time he stressed that “we do not thrust ourselves in partners in order to solve a common problem of the international society”.

“We are interested in cooperation with any country as they are”, stated Anatoly Antonov.

The Deputy Minister said that in a few days the second videoconference with the American partners would be held.

“Nevertheless, we consider that it would be better if our colleagues arrive in Moscow to have a meeting in the Ministry of Defence and discuss all facing problems,” said Anatoly Antonov.

According to him, the Russian Ministry of Defence expects American colleagues to speak out concerning the Russian suggestions in the course of the next teleconference.

Deputy Defence Minister told that the Russian Defence Ministry kept a close eye on the way how the current events in Syria and, in particular, the actions of the Russian air group were being presented in the western media.

Anatoly Antonov said that he could not help but say a few words concerning the situation with the western media. He noted that there was a real information war.

He paid attention to the messages concerning the statements of the NATO Secretary General and the Head of the Pentagon Ashton Carter. Anatoly Antonov emphasized that if the media information about the Carter’s statement concerning the necessity of countering Russia in Syria was true, that, of course, was deeply regrettable and disappointing.

Deputy Defence Minister also stated that representatives of the Turkish Defence Ministry were welcome to come in Russia for negotiations to prevent misunderstandings in Syria.

Anatoly Antonov said that the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces was ready to create a number of different working groups with any interested state to deal with those issues; representatives of the Turkish Ministry of Defence were always welcome to come in Moscow.

He explained that all the technical questions could be discussed during the meeting to avoid misunderstandings, which might occur during task performance in Syria assigned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces.

Deputy defence Minister told journalists that the Russian pilots used not only the information from the Syrian partners, but also space and air reconnaissance data.

Anatoly Antonov explained that the reconnaissance data underwent multiple checks; the decisions, which had been made on its basis, were thoroughly considered and thought out; the targets were engaged only if it was known for sure that they would not be missed.

According to the Deputy Defence Minister, there is information that terrorists in Syria are sheltering in mosques. “They know our careful and respectful attitude to mosques, they clearly understand that we will never, on no condition make strikes on non-military objects,” emphasized Anatoly Antonov.

“I want to appeal once more: stop communicating through the media only,” stated Anatoly Antonov. He also invited the members of the anti-ISIL coalition to visit the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces in order to solve the facing problem.

We strongly believe that nobody could fight terrorism alone. No matter how the United States, Great Britain, Germany and NATO are powerful, there is no doubt that these countries will not be able to eliminate the common threat by themselves. That is why we are appealing for the wide international cooperation”, concluded Anatoly Antonov.

Source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

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