NATO’s deployment of Patriot Complexes is a concern to Russia,says Putin’s press secretary

ISTANBUL , (ST)-Russia’s and Turkey’s positions on the Syrian crisis fully coincide but solution methods vary, President Vladimir Putin said during a joint press-conference with Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul. The Syrian issue dominated the agenda of the talks, the VoR`s reporter says.

Mr. Putin said that he and Mr. Erdogan agreed to instruct their foreign ministers to hold additional consultations on Syria to exchange new ideas on how the crisis could be solved.

Russia shares Turkey`s concerns over the situation on the Syrian border but opposes Ankara`s plans to place Patriot missiles in the area.

Putin’s Istanbul visit focused on Syria, cooperation

Russia fears deploying NATO Patriot anti-aircraft missiles near Turkey’s border with Syria will create even more serious instability in the surrounding region.

The deployment of NATO Patriot complexes in Turkey “is a concern to Russia and does not contribute to the stabilization of the already fragile situation” in the region, the President’s Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters in Istanbul on Monday.

He noted that this issue will be addressed in today’s talks. Peskov will accompany President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Istanbul. Shortly after his arrival in Turkey, Putin began closed-door talks with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan.

M.D