Jaafari after Meeting De Mistura: UK, France Funding Terrorism in Syria

France and the United Kingdom are among the countries sponsoring terrorism in Syria, Bashar Jaafari, the head of the Syrian government delegation to the Geneva intra-Syrian talks, said Friday.

“Both France and the United Kingdom are among the western countries sponsoring terrorism and using it as political weapon,” Jaafari told reporters following the meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

He added that the government welcomed those who was willing to fight ISIL.

“Fighting terrorism requires concerted efforts by all. The direct US military intervention in Syria does not help to fight ISIL….  The only way is to coordinate with the Syrian Arab Army,” Jaafari concluded.

Damascus values highly Russia’s efforts in Syrian reconciliation, in particular in Astana, according to Jaafari.

“We assessed the tracks of Astana and Geneva. We commended [to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura] positive and constructive Russian initiatives on stabilization of ceasefire and finding political solution, through continued cooperation between Assad and Putin,” Jaafari said.

The fifth round of talks on Syrian crisis settlement kicked off on Thursday and is expected to conclude on March 31, according to sources close to the meetings.