In an exclusive interview with al-Alam News Channel, Yevgeny Sidorov said, “it was predictable that the U.S. would attempt to place al-Nusra Front on the list of terrorist groups after the Front began cooperation with al-Qaeda. At the present time, Washington shows a more lenient behavior towards the Syrian crisis as it realizes the danger of terrorism and the al-Nusra Front.”

“There is discord about Syria between the U.S. and its allies, such as France. For instance, the U.S. opposed the proposal of issuing a statement at the UN Security Council in which the recent Damascus bombings would be condemned,” the Russian writer and analyst added.

Referring to Russia’s worries about the infiltration of al-Qaeda and terrorist groups into the north of Caucasus, Sidorov rejected the claim that Russia tries to exaggerate the role of al-Nusra Front and the al-Qaeda in Syria and said, “the opponents of the Syrian regime are divided internally. Further, there is strong dissonance between the opposition and the al-Nusra Front as al-Nusra takes measures irresponsibly which are detrimental to the goals of the opposition.”

The Russian analyst confirmed that Moscow is really worried that al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front are gaining power in Syria and said, “Russia and the U.S. can take the initiatives towards controlling the Syrian crisis.”

Reminding the Russian president Vladimir Putin’s remarks in his trip to Germany where he called for immediate halt to arming both fighting sides in Syria, Sidorov asserted, “Russia is ready to halt arms exports to Syria. Putin’s proposal is a new element in Russia’s siding which needs to be taken into consideration.”

He emphasized that arming extremist groups in Syria adds to the complication of the situation in the country, noting, “such measures will threat the future of Syria and will be followed by dire and unpredictable consequences.”