Aim of providing assistance to Syrian army destroying IS - Federation Council speaker

MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. The aim of providing assistance to regular Syrian army is to destroy the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told journalists on Wednesday. "The President submitted the request [to use Russian Armed Forces outside of Russia]. While considering it, we proceeded from the fact that it first of all meets Russian national security interests for many reasons," Matviyenko said. "Today, if we don’t crush this hydra at its root, where it is fighting, if we don’t destroy the Islamic State now, seriously destroy it, then it will be a great threat to the whole world. And there is also a threat of ISIL’s [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - former name of the Islamic State] expansion to other countries, to Europe and Russia," she added. "In this sense, the aim of providing assistance to Syria is to destroy terrorist groups at the spot," she noted adding that decision to help Syria is also the issue of "saving Syrian people whose lives are in constant danger." "More than that, the integrity and sovereignty of Syria are also under threat," Matviyenko continued. "Thousands of people from all other the world are fighting in Syria, including CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] and Russian citizens," she added. "These people that are fighting [in Syria] will later return to their home countries, including to Russia, and this is a threat for national security," Matviyenko said. Earlier today, the Federation Council has unanimously granted permission to the Russian president to use the nation’s military force in Syria, Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov told journalists. "The Federation Council unanimously supported the president’s request - 162 votes in favor [of granting permission]," Ivanov said. Russia will use only its Air Force in Syria against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group upon the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, Ivanov said, stressing that no ground troops will be sent. International community’s support Matviyenko has said she is confident Russia’s actions in Syria will be support by the international community as necessary. "I think that the absolute majority in the international community will support Russia’s actions as timely and necessary," Matviyenko told journalists commenting on the decision to grant permission to the president to use Russian Armed Forces abroad. The speaker noted that other opinions can be voiced around the world but the Russian side "treats this calmly as it knows it is right." "In this situation, we could not refuse Syrian President Bashar Assad and continue watching how people die, how women and children die, how historical and cultural sites are being destroyed," Matviyenko stressed. "I think that the time has come when we cannot not act, when we cannot stay away from these global processes," she concluded. Reforms necessary in Syria Western partners have started to understand that immediate resignation of Syrian President Bashar Assad is impossible because he can be replaced by terrorists, the speaker continued. Reforms in Syria are necessary but only after the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization is defeated, Matviyenko said. "I think that certain shifts emerged in the US’ position. There are no more categorical demands of Assad’s immediate resignation because they understand it will result in chaos and tumult. Russia supports reforms and changes in Syria but they should happen in parallel, while the main priority task now is to defeat terrorism, defeat IS. Reforms should be carried out in parallel with that, and later elections, in other conditions, when the Syrian people will decide themselves who should lead the country," she stressed. Read more