Syria's neighbouring foreign ministers call for preservation of security during Jordan talks

Foreign ministers and intelligence chiefs from Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon in Amman to find ways to combat terrorism, and drugs and arms smuggling

Delegates from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq attend a meeting in Amman to discuss security co-operation and regional developments. Reuters

A high-level regional meeting on Sunday in Jordan condemned ”groups that target Syria’s security”, amid the worst fighting the country has suffered since the fall of the Assad regime in December, and fears of an ISIS resurgence.

“The participants affirmed … their condemnation of all attempts and groups that target the security of sovereignty and peace in brotherly Syria,” said a statement by the five countries after the one-day meeting, which comprised their foreign and defence ministers, and their intelligence chiefs.

Preserving Syria’s security and sovereignty is “fundamental” for the whole region, the statement said.

The talks took place after more than 1,300 people, including 830 citizens, mostly Alawites, were killed in clashes between Syrian security forces and forces linked to ousted president Bashar Al Assad, amid a wave of sectarian-fuelled revenge killings across the coastal area.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani, who did not speak of the continuing sectarian violence, said the new authorities have adopted a conciliatory approach towards loyalists of the former regime, and pardoned some of them.

“We know who did the killings in Syria: it is the [former] Assad regime,” Mr Al Shibani said. “We will not allow Assad regime remnants to destabilise Syria. Everyone who has contributed to the violence will be held accountable.”

Syrian leader: ‘We will pursue remnants of Assad regime and bring them to trial’

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Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that the five countries will jointly work “to create stability in Syria, which affects the region”.

“We [also] came to this meeting to plan how to combat ISIS, which has been regrouping its forces in Syria,” Mr Hussein said. He said the five nations will set up an operations room “to help exchange information and plan action against ISIS”.

The statement said that the five countries will work on finding ways to deal with thousands of prisoners suspected of links to ISIS under the custody of a US-backed Kurdish militia in eastern Syria. The prisoners are mostly Arab nationals.

They also condemned Israeli incursions into Syria, which increased since the former regime was ousted, as a “blatant violation” of international law.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the meeting discussed “combatting terrorism, drugs and arms smuggling.”

Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, said that agitation aimed at raising sectarian tension in Syria must stop. He did not assign blame.

The meeting also discussed supporting Syria’s reconstruction to ensure the voluntary return of refugees.

Jordanian officials have said they were ready to help Syria rebuild and promised to help it ease its acute power shortages by supplying it with electricity and gas.

Last month, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Syria’s interim President Ahmad Al Shara agreed to work together to secure their common border against arms smuggling and drug trafficking.

The leaders said that co-ordination was crucial for border security and for curbing arms and drug smuggling, a phenomenon that Jordan struggled to contain along its border during the rule of Mr Al Assad.

In December, Jordan hosted the first international conference on Syria a week after the offensive that forced Mr Al Assad to flee the country. Officials in Amman say they want to see a peaceful political transition in Syria, fearing a return of chaos and instability along its borders.