Lavrov: Turkey Developments Won’t Affect Russian Aerospace Force Actions in Syria

MOSCOW- The question of how the developments around Turkey’s Incirlik airbase can influence the anti-terrorism operation in Syria should be clarified within the framework of the US-led coalition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday during a press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva , according to Itar Tass.

The aircraft used by Washington and its allies for delivering airstrikes on the positions of the so-called “Islamic State” terrorist group in Iraq and Syria are deployed at the Incirlic base. These operations were suspended for at least a day in connection with the developments in Turkey.

 “As regards the developments in Turkey, in particular, at the Incirlik Air Force base, it’s rather an issue to be clarified in the context of the activity of the coalition led by the Americans and that includes Turkey,” Lavrov said.

According to him, the developments in Turkey have no effect on the Russian Aerospace Force actions in the anti-terrorism operation in Syria.

“We can answer for those mechanisms that were created with our participation, for the conditions created for the Russian Aerospace Force activity in Syria and that are based on the agreement we signed with Damascus in accordance with a direct request of Syrian President Bashar Assad for Russia’s assistance in the fight against terrorism,” the minister said. ” “In this sense, from the viewpoint of the fulfillment of our agreement with the Syrians, there have been no problems whatsoever,” the minister said.

Russia and Portugal for constitutional order

 Lavrov and Silva have pointed to the need to resolve the situation in Turkey solely in line with the Constitution.

“A telephone conversation between Russian and Turkish Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan was held the day before,” Russia’s top diplomat said. “During this conversation our president reaffirmed the fact that Russia takes a principled stand on the inadmissibility of anti-constitutional coups, be it in Turkey, Ukraine, Yemen or elsewhere. For us it is important that the Turkish president has confirmed that everything will be done to ensure the Russian citizens’ safety.”

Itar Tass

H.M