On the EU Parliament adopting a resolution on countering Russian Media
The resolution on countering Russian media is a 'stunt' by a number of members of the EU Parliament, Maria Zakharova said.
On Wednesday, the EU Parliament adopted a draft resolution proposed by EU lawmaker from Poland Anna Elzbieta Fotyga on EU strategic communication to counteract propaganda against the bloc by third parties, which says that Russia is allegedly engaged in propaganda against the European Union.
"I would not call what happened yesterday the European Parliament passing a resolution, I can call it a stunt by a number of parliamentarians of the European Parliament," Zakharova said.
Zakharova stressed that Moscow is not engaged in propaganda against the European Union.
"This document equates, I would like to stress, the Kremlin’s alleged propaganda war against the west to propaganda methods used by the Islamic State terrorist organization which is banned in Russia … We have repeatedly said, and I would to reiterate, that the Russian side is not leading any propaganda against the European Union, if there are any internal issues in the European Union, the reason behind these issues should be found within, not in third parties’ propaganda," Zakharova said.
"The resolution is full of phobias and inventions," Zakharova said.
She then expressed hope that no practical steps will be taken to limit the work of Russian media in the EU: "We hope that this resolution will not be followed by practical steps to restrict the work of Russian media outlets. There is a reason for such hope, because the passage of this document triggered a colossal wave of opposition in the European Union itself," Zakharova said.
"If the resolution is implemented in practice, Moscow will take retaliation measures," Zakharova said.
When she was later asked what she meants by 'retaliation measures', Zakharova said that Moscow's response will be reciprocal.
Moscow has never previously resorted to stigmatizing foreign journalists in the country, she added, stressing that Russia has remained tolerant despite a "frenzy" of anti-Russian rhetoric in Western magazines and on television.
"Moscow has never made any moves to ban, deprive, deport, close, expel and so on," Zakharova said.
On the situation in Syria
Zakharova them moved to talk about the situation in Syria.
She said that militants are failing to stop the advance of the Syrian army.
Talking about the US State Department's comments about the situation in Syria, Zakharova said that the US' "rhetoric on so-called facts" concentrates on blaming Russia in everything that happens in the war-torn country.
Zakharova called the US State Department's assessment of the situation in Syria 'biased and unprofessional': "The US State Department has a biased view on Damascus' actions, but fails to notice crimes conducted by militants in Syria."
She pointed out that attempts taken by the US and their allies to protect militant groups in Syria equates to aiding international terrorism.
"We believe such explicit shielding by the current US administration and their allies of these armed gangs… is just part of complicity in international terrorism," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
She later said that Moscow hopes that, with the presidential election over, Washington will have a 'more realistic position' on the Syrian issue.
On the situation in Iraq
Zakharova then moved to talk about the situation in Iraq.
"The situation in Mosul, Iraq, is turning into a humanitaran catastrophe," Zakharova said.
The Iraqi operation to retake Mosul from terrorists has been going on for over a month since October 17. The battle for the city began with 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and 30,000 Iraqi soldiers backed by the US-led anti-terror coalition advancing on the city from the east, west and south.
Mosul has been occupied by Daesh since 2014.
On the downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft by Turkey one year ago
Talking about the relations between Russia and Turkey one year after the tragic downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft by Turkey, Zakharova said that it will take time to fully renew the relations.
"As we've always said, it is very easy to damage relations, and very hard to renew them," Zakharova said.
On the Bal and Bastion missile systems deployed to the Kuril Islands
When asked about Russia's decision to deploy Bal and Bastion mobile anti-ship missile systems to the Kuril islands, Zakharova said that it was part of a planned operation to ensure national security.
"As regards the deployment of missile systems on Southern Kurils: the Russian Federation, on a regular basis, implements measures as part of defense construction, with the aim to consecutively enhance national security," Zakharova said.
"The coastal defense missile systems were deployed on Southern Kurils, which are an integral part of Russian territory, in line with that policy," she stressed.
The Kuril Islands are the subject of the long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Japan lays claims to Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets. The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty after World War II.
