REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- National Police chief General Tito Karnavian is ready to bridge the rapprochement between Russia and the United States, particularly to combat ISIS militant group, which has become a global security threat.
According to Tito, the Syria-based militant group was much more difficult to handle compared to Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, because of conflicting political agendas of Russia and the US, the two major world powers, in the war-affected country.
"We hope that Russia and the US get rid of their difference in local politics (in Syria). When it comes to politics, there will be endless discussion because these two countries are opposite to each other, which in turns benefits ISIS," he noted after receiving a medal from the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Russia handed over by Russian Federation's ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Y Galuzin on Thursday.
The existence of ISIS is a threat to the international security not only because of their acts of terrorism in many countries but also because of their influence in recruiting foreign terrorist fighters (FTF).
Last year, about 700 Indonesians and approximately 7 thousand Russian citizens joined the group in Syria.
Such facts need to be considered by all nations in the world, including the Russian and the American people.
Considering Indonesia has good relations with both Russia and the US, the police chief declared his intention to mediate a dialogue between the two countries, especially when the relationship between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin was relatively improving.
In line with Tito's statement, Russian ambassador agreed that closer cooperation between the countries was effective for countering terrorism.
Russia claims to be open for dialogue to support the normalization of its relation with the US, which was strained over the Crimea peninsula, which was rejoined with the federation through a process of democratic referendum, during the Obama administration.
"Unfortunately, till now, the American side has been refusing to cooperate with us, but we hope it is not the last decision from Washington DC," Galuzin remarked.
He also hoped that the meeting between US Secretary of State Rex W Tillerson and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow next week would bring fresh wind to help mend the strained relations between the two countries.
"We expect that common sense as well as a responsible approach will prevail in Washington. Hence, US will return to its normal relation with Russia in all aspects, including anti-terrorism cooperation," he stated.
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