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Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zakharova Holds Weekly Press Briefing

© Sputnik / Anton Denisov / Go to the mediabankBriefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova
Briefing by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova - Sputnik International
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the Russian anti-terrorist operation in Syria and the A321 crash in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula during her weekly press briefing in Moscow.

Zakharova was providing additional information about the ministry's agenda and answered questions about Russian military operations in Syria. She also commented on the Russian passenger plane crash over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on October 31, killing all 224 people on board.

Syrian Crisis Settlement

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Russian Jets Destroyed Over 2,000 Terrorist Targets Since September 30
Terrorist groups have suffered major losses due to Russian airstrikes in Syria, Zakharova said, adding that displaced Syrians start to return to their homes.

Zakharova stated that US authorities had declined to provide evidence of Russian airstrikes allegedly hitting civilian infrastructure in Syria, as well as targeting so-called Syrian moderate rebels.

Moscow believes that establishing contacts with Syrian opposition groups which do not support terrorism is important for the Syrian crisis settlement, she said.

"The establishment of direct contacts between the Russian Defense Ministry and representatives from a number of armed groups in Syria, which reject terrorism and extremism, is an important step."

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Moscow did not consider all opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad opponents to be terrorists.

"We have never stated that all parties involved in the Syrian confict in one way or another are terrorists. We have clearly said that there are extremists, terrorists, and there is the Syrian opposition. Some of them [opposition forces] are actually holding weapons in their hands, we have stated this clearly."

Russia aims to discuss the list of terrorist groups in Syria at the next international meeting in Vienna.

"We intend to develop a common and unambiguous understanding of which of the armed groups are terrorists," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

Airbus A321 Crash in Egypt

Russia is shocked over the fact that Britain did not share data backing the version of an alleged explosion aboard the Russian airliner, Zakharova said.

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On Wednesday, the UK government concluded that the Russian passenger plane en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg might have crashed on October 31 due to a bomb explosion, and suspended all flights to and from the Egyptian city until additional security measures were taken.

"It surprises us… that the head of the Foreign Office, not a specialist, is making such statements on the issue that implies knowledge of facts. It is really shocking that it means that the British government has information which can shed the light on what happened in the skies over Egypt," Zakharova said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman added that it was up to Britain to decide on the cancellation of flights to Sharm el-Sheikh.

On October 31, an Airbus A321 operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia, crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. All 224 people on board were killed in what has become the largest civil aviation disaster in Russian and Soviet history.

Al-Shabaab Attack in Somalia

Russia is concerned that the Somalia-based al-Shabaab militant group is attempting to coordinate its activities with ISIL jihadists, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

"Information about coordinated actions between al-Shabaab and other radical groups in Africa, and its striving to establish contacts with ISIL are of particular concern."

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Al-Shabaab is an al-Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia. The group seeks to overthrow the Somali government and impose a strict version of Islam in the country. It has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Somalia and on border towns in Kenya.

Moscow has called for international efforts to enhance the potential of the Somali government's army and to support peacekeeping missions of the African Union in the country, she added.

Moscow is also concerned over the latest terrorist attack carried out by Al-Shabaab in Somalia, Maria Zakharova said.

"We express deep concern in regard to the major terrorist attack carried out by militants from the Somali Al-Shabaab group on October 31. We are talking about an attack at a Mogadishu hotel, which killed at least 17 people. We express our condolences to the families and friends of the victims."

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