Russia ready to actively support forces fighting with terrorists on ground — (FM)

Russia is ready to actively cooperate with the forces in Syria who are fighting against terrorists on the ground, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday opening a meeting with co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party of Turkey Selahattin Demirtas.

"We hope that during your stay in Moscow we will be able to discuss the situation in the region," Lavrov said. "As part of the efforts of the international community to resolve the Syrian crisis, it is crucially important to bring together the opportunities of all those who aim at resolutely fighting against terrorism."

"We know that Iraqi and Syrian Kurds are confronting the threat of ISIS [former name of the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia - TASS] and other extremist groups ‘on the ground’ with weapons in their hands," the minister said. "They, together with the army of Iraq, the army of Syria are fighting for their homes, for the right to live on their land. This is their inalienable right, just as the rights of Christians, Yazidis and other minorities to remain on the lands of their ancestors and not to be subjected to deadly threats from terrorists."

Lavrov noted that "Russia, being involved in the anti-terrorist coalition in Syria at the request of the Syrian government, is ready to actively support the forces on the ground who are countering this threat."

Relations between Russian, Turkish peoples to remain friendly

• According to the Russian minister, the relations between the peoples of Russia and Turkey will remain friendly despite the actions of the current Turkish leadership, which authorized the attack on Russia’s Sukhoi Su-24 warplane.

• "We are living through a period, which is not the best in the Russian-Turkish relations…," Lavrov said. "However, our attitude towards the attack authorized by the current Turkish leadership against the Russian aircraft that was carrying out an anti-terror mission in no way extends to our attitude towards the entire Turkish people."

"This attitude is friendly, it is based on trust, the history of coexistence side by side, joint projects in the cultural, humanitarian and economic areas. I am sure all this will remain unchanged," the minister said...
   [tass.ru] 23/12/15
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