Lavrov Says Turkey and ISIS in Secret Talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Source: Armenpress)

YEREVAN (Armenpress) — According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Turkey and the “Islamic state” (ISIS) are in the process of secret negotiations and are discussing new options for smuggling. He explained his statements in an interview with the Russian newspaper, Moskovsky Komsomolets.

“We are greatly alarmed by the messages that constantly come publicly and through private channels that the Turks specifically plan or even, perhaps, have already started to explore parts of Syrian territory under the pretext of the establishment of tent cities to accumulate Syrian refugees, not allowing them to cross the Turkish border, where, according to them, camps are already overcrowded,” said the Russian Minister.

“Turkey continue discussions to create a security zone in Syrian territory, free from ISIS,” continued the Russian Foreign Minister.

“Everybody understands that we are talking about the border between the two Kurdish enclaves, the connection forces which Turkey considers to be totally unacceptable though, because it will block Turkey’s ability to provide fighters in Syria and to get from them for smuggling. There is information that the leadership of the ISIS is continuing secret contacts with Turkish leaders,” noticed Lavrov. “They discuss the options in the present circumstances, when the blows of our videoconferencing capabilities of traditional smuggling routes are severely limited.”

According to the Russian Federation, Turks in NATO already discussed plans on creating free zones from ISIS in Syria.

Lavrov explained how these acts by the Turks violate all principles of international law and efficiently increase the escalation of the situation.

Lavrov believes that the U.S.-led coalition will not allow Turkey to implement plans for full-scale invasion of Syria.

“I don’t think it will happen because of minor provocations, which I have already mentioned including the construction of campsites and the preparation of any engineering structures on the distance of 100-200 meters deep into Syrian territory several kilometers on the front. It’s still not a full-scale invasion,” said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, responding to a question.