"The main risk of further aggravation of the situation both in [Syria] and in neighboring states stems from the activities of the so-called Islamic State and other radical groups that were once actively employed by some Western countries, which flirted with them and encouraged them," Putin said in a written interview with Turkey's Anadolu information agency.
Putin acknowledged that the Syrian crisis remains a source of serious concern for the international community.
Russia's president has also stated that "the efforts to deter this threat should be based on the UN Security Council resolutions, strict compliance with international law, the principles of state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of states in the first place." This should be done "transparently and without any hidden agenda," Putin added.
IS, also known as Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is a Sunni jihadist group that has been fighting the Syrian government since 2012. In June, it launched an offensive in Iraq, seizing large areas in Syria and Iraq and announcing the establishment of an Islamic caliphate on the territories under its control. The United States began airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq in August. In September, US President Barack Obama announced the formation of an international anti-IS coalition. The US-led coalition has carried out airstrikes against IS positions in Iraq and Syria.
Sanctions Against Russia Illegitimate, Threaten International Stability
“I would like to note that unilateral restrictive measures imposed on our country by the United States, EU, Japan, Australia, and a number of other states are not legitimate. Such pressure not only causes direct economic damage, but also threatens international stability,” Putin said in a written interview with Turkey’s Anadolu information agency.
Putin said that the use of “ultimatums and sanctions in talks with Russia are absolutely inadmissible and have no chance for success.” He added that Russia’s response has always been “balanced and consistent” with the country’s obligations under international treaties.
“We hope that common sense will prevail. We call to abandon the distorted logic of restrictions and threats and to search for mutually acceptable solutions to outstanding issues,” Putin concluded.
Relations between Russia and the West have deteriorated in the wake of the Ukrainian crisis, as European and US leaders as well as others blame Moscow for meddling in Ukrainian affairs — a claim that Russia has repeatedly denied.
The European Union and the United States have introduced several rounds of sanctions against a number of Russian officials and companies in the banking, energy and defense sectors, despite multiple assurances by Moscow that it played no role in the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that the use of "counterproductive" sanctions will have a boomerang effect on European economies.
Russia to Put Turkish Satellite Into Orbit in 2015
In 2015 Russia will put the Turkish Turksat-4B satellite into orbit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the Turkish Anadolu information agency Friday.
"One of the promising areas is cooperation between our countries in space exploration. On February 15, 2014, a Turkish telecommunication satellite Turksat-4A was successfully launched using a Russian carrier rocket. Next year, we plan to launch a second satellite, Turksat-4B," Putin said.
On February 15, a Russian Proton rocket carrying the Turkish satellite was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Manufactured by the Japanese Mitsubishi Electric corporation, the Turksat-4B satellite is designed to work in a geostationary orbit.
Turksat-4B's launch date will depend on the results of Turksat-4A orbital tests and will be announced at a later date.
Turkey Decision Against Anti-Russia Sanctions Well-Weighed Policy
"We highly value independent decisions by Turkey, including on economic cooperation with Russia. Our Turkish partners refused to sacrifice their interests for somebody else's political ambitions. I consider that to be a really well-weighed and far sighted policy," Putin said in a written interview with Turkey's Anadolu information agency.
The president noted that the Turkish government's decision to increase exports of food products to Russia "opens up new opportunities for increasing bilateral trade."
"First of all, it allows the Turkish farmers to fill in the emerging niches on Russia's huge food market. We welcome their intentions to export more meat, dairy and fish products, vegetables, and fruits to Russia," Putin said.
The president expressed hope that the two countries will be able to increase mutual trade and enhance investment cooperation.
"We have already agreed with Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan that we can bring our mutual trade up to $100 billion (in 2013, it amounted to $32.7 billion)," Putin added.
Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March, the United States and its allies have introduced several rounds of sanctions against Russia, blaming Moscow for meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs. The sanctions particularly targeted defense, energy and banking sectors of the Russian economy, as well as some individuals. Turkey did not join in the sanctions.
In August, Moscow responded to the western sanctions by issuing a ban on the import of some food products from the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia and Norway.
