Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 2
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Ankara hopes that Moscow's actions in Syria will not affect bilateral relations between Turkey and Russia, a source in Turkish president's administration told Trend Oct. 2.
The source said that originally Russian military operations in Syria were planned against the "Islamic State" terrorist organization, but the day before blows were delivered to the Syrian opposition in the city of Idlib.
On Oct. 1, Turkish Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu said Ankara is concerned over the Russian air forces' operation in Syria due to the information that the air strikes were inflicted on civilian objects.
"We are concerned over yesterday's operation conducted by the Russian air forces in Syria because there is information that Russia's planes are attacking not the IS, but civilian objects," he said at a press conference in New York. "If it is true, then we are very concerned about it."
"This [attacks on civilian objects] is the thing we want least in Syria," he further added. "This can lead to aggravation of problems in the country, but not settle the long-standing Syrian crisis."
Earlier, Russia's President Vladimir Putin appealed to the country's Federation Council for a permission to use the Russian armed forces abroad. The Federation Council granted the request.
The head of the Kremlin administration, Sergei Ivanov told reporters Sept. 30 that the decision concerns Syria and the matter rests only in an operation of the air forces.
Russia earlier sent its warplanes to Syria after a request from Damascus.
Russian aerospace forces have also been reported to deliver strikes on positions of the IS in Syria.
Edited by SI
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