WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Ankara should seal its border with Syria to stop oil smuggling by the Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh), US Secretary of State John Kerry stated on Wednesday at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
“[Turkish] President Erdogan is completely committed to and ready to proceed with Turkish forces and in cooperation with others to help guarantee that the remaining portion of the border is sealed,” Kerry said. “It’s as much in the interest of Turkey to close off the movement of illegally transported oil, or to close off the passage of foreign fighters in one direction or another.”
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Wenesday that Turkey is the main consumer of illegal oil from Syria and Iraq, accusing Erdogan and his family of direct involvement in the IS oil business. Erdogan said he would resign if unquestionable evidence on the matter was presented.
US Defense Department official told Sputnik on Wednesday that the United States denied evidence of Ankara’s involvement in the IS oil smuggling operations.
