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Kusturica: Russia Will Solve Syrian Crisis Before May

© AP Photo / Antonio CalanniSerbian film director Emir Kusturica gestures during the Italian State RAI TV program "Che Tempo che Fa," in Milan, Italy
Serbian film director Emir Kusturica gestures during the Italian State RAI TV program Che Tempo che Fa, in Milan, Italy - Sputnik International
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In the current state of international relations, only Russia can put everything in order and sort out the ongoing Syrian conflict, famous Serbian film director Emir Kusturica told during an interview to the website PolitNavigator.

Kusturica was optimistic, saying that Moscow will solve the Syrian conflict before May. After that the people of Syria would come together to vote whether they want to have Bashar al-Assad as the president or choose someone else.

The Syrian government is lucky to have Vladimir Putin on their side, Kusturica said, adding that the Russian Army would save Syria.

"To put it simply — you either have S-400 [Russia's modern air defense missile system] or you do not," Kusturica said.

The famous film director also added that he wished someone like Putin led the Russian government during the times when the Yugoslav wars started in the 1990s. According to Kusturica, if Putin and Russian S-400 were around when the breakup of Yugoslavia began the peoples of Yugoslavia would have had a real opportunity to vote whether they wanted to split up their country or keep living together as one country.

Vladimir Putin at the test if a T-50 fifth generation fighter - Sputnik International
Light at the End of the Tunnel: Putin 'Puts Things in Order' in Syria
As for Russian efforts in Syria, Moscow has openly declared that its goal is not to keep al-Assad in power by all means necessary. What Moscow said was that it won't accept the overthrow of a legitimately elected Syrian leader, but if the people of Syria were to democratically elect another president then Russia would no doubt respect that choice.

Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011. Over 220,000 people have been killed. The government forces are fighting various militant groups, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

On September 30, Russia launched airstrikes against terrorist positions in Syria, at the request of President Bashar Assad.

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