GERMANY: ASSAD REGIME BUYS OIL FROM ISIL

German Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli. (Photo: AA)

Berlin, 20 Safar 1437/2 December 2015 (MINA) – The German government has accused the Bashar al-Assad regime of buying oil from the Islamic Statae (ISIL/Daesh) group, which Damascus had previously designated as its enemy.

German Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli told a news conference in Berlin on Tuesday that there was evidence of oil transactions between the Assad regime and ISIL. Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Turkey was buying oil from ISIL, Chebli said that German authorities have no information supporting these particular claims.

“But what we know for example is that the Assad regime has received large amounts of oil from ISIL. We have evidence; we have indications showing that this is the case,” she added.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert also criticized accusations directed at Turkey, saying there was no serious evidence indicating Turkey was tolerating or actively supporting such oil purchases with Daesh

“We do not see such accusations without any evidence as helpful. We believe that the international community should focus strengthening the fight against ISIL, and refrain from everything that can strengthen ISIL,” he stressed. (T/P001/R03)

Mia’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)