TURKEY, RUSSIA AGREE ON BATTLING TERROR IN SYRIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan review an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the new presidential palace outside Ankara on December 1, 2014. (Photo:Press Tv)

Ankara, 9 Safar 1436/2 December 2014 (MINA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara and Moscow have agreed to cooperate on fighting terrorism in Syria, despite having differences over the crisis in the Arab country.

“We have a common stance (with Russia) over the Daesh terrorist organization there,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Monday, using a different alternative for the ISIL group.

The Turkish president added that the two countries have no problem “over the issue of terrorism.” Press Tv quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Tuesday.

Putin, for his part, said, “We do not want chaos in Syria, nor the strengthening of the opposition groups.”

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Turkey and Russia have different stances on the crisis in Syria, as Ankara opposes the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while Moscow supports it.

Putin underlined that a solution must be found to the crisis and terrorism in Syria, but that should be done by the Syrian people themselves.

The Russian president further said that Assad garnered overwhelming support in the June presidential elections.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. The violence fuelled by opposition groups has so far claimed the lives of over 200,000 people, according to reports. (T/P007/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)