Geopolitical ambitions inappropriate in fight against Islamic State - Lavrov

MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. Attempts to satisfy someone’s geopolitical ambitions are inappropriate in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization banned in Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday. "Plans to create some kind of safe havens, fence oneself off from troubled neighbors do not work. The importance of putting all secondary issues aside and focusing on the fight against terrorism is absolutely obvious for us," Lavrov told the meeting with participants in the program of the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund "Dialogue for the Future." "This is a common threat for all countries without exception especially when such sinister group as IS emerged threatening in fact the entire human civilization," the foreign minister noted. "The fight against this evil should become the utmost priority. Plans to fulfill geopolitical ambitions in parallel with this fight are absolutely unacceptable here. It (fight against terrorism) should be based on international law, under UN auspices, without double standards," he stressed. Lavrov reminded about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiative to form a united counter-terrorist front. "We adhere to this plan. We do not just proclaim it, we persistently promote it in contacts will all our partners," the foreign minister said. Islamic State extremist organization The Islamic State is an extremist organization banned in Russia. In 2013-2014, it called itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In June 2014, IS announce the establishment of the "Islamic caliphate" on the territories seized in Iraq and Syria. According to US’ Central Intelligence Agency, the extremist group includes around 30,000 people, while Iraqi authorities claim there are around 200,000 in IS. Among members of the group are citizens of 80 countries, including France, Great Britain, Germany, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, US, Canada, as well as Russia and other CIS countries. According to reports, militants now control around 40 percent of the Iraqi territory and 50 percent of the Syrian territory. Russian military operation in Syria On September 30 Russia’s Federation Council unanimously approved President Vladimir Putin’s request to launch a military operation in Syria against Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups. Russian Aerospace Defense Forces delivered first targeted airstrikes at militants’ positions on the same day. More than 50 jets and helicopters take part in the operation, including Su-34 and Su-24M fighter jets, Su-25 aircraft, Su-30SM fighter aircraft, and Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. Since the start of the operation, Russian aviation made hundreds of sorties, destroyed dozens of ammunition depots, explosives production plants and command posts. Read more