US Halt of Cooperation With Russia on Syria Reveals Support of al-Nusra Front

The United States’ declaring the end of cooperation with Russia on Syria reveals Washington’s unwillingness to fight terrorism in the country and its support of al-Nusra Front militant group, Mais Krydee, the official representative of Syria's internal Hmeimim opposition group, told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Monday, the US State Department announced it was suspending bilateral channels with Russia that were established to sustain a cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said in a press briefing that State Secretary John Kerry had informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of the suspension.

"It proves that the United States was not serious about fighting against terrorism and finishing the war. They are using terrorism in our country to re-build its map and to make their new project in the Middle East… From the first moment when they talked about moderate opposition, it was clear they cannot separate between moderates and terrorist groups," Krydee said.

Hmeimim group is still hopeful with regard to the prospects of the political settlement in the country despite the end of the US-Russian cooperation, Mais Krydee, told Sputnik.

"We as an internal opposition always support the negotiations. On Monday, we had a meeting in Damascus to talk with the other national [opposition] groups about how to make all the sides involved in this struggle to go to the negotiations table… There are many obstacles for this political process, but I am sure this is the only way. We have to continue our efforts," Krydee said.

The group also hopes that the next president of the United States will renew Washington’s diplomatic efforts to reach a peace settlement on Syria, Mais Krydee said.

"It’s very important to push everyone to go to the negotiation table. But it seems that we have to wait until there is a new president in the White House. May be it [Russia-US cooperation] will be finished now, but I think with the new president of the United States there can be a new dialogue," Krydee said.