Use of terrorism for political purposes unacceptable - statement

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun have reaffirmed their intention to fight terrorism and said that violating states’ territorial integrity is inadmissible. The heads of state believe that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations poses one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, regional and global stability and sustainable development," reads their joint statement approved following talks in Moscow, which was posted on the Kremlin’s website. The parties stressed that they would "continue to cooperate in order to counter terrorism in accordance with the norms of international law, the UN Charter and the relevant UN Security Council’s decisions." Putin and Aoun pointed to "the inadmissibility of violating the principles of sovereignty and equality of states, the use of terrorist and extremist organizations as tools to realize political and geopolitical goals." They stressed that "terrorism is unrelated to any culture, religion or ethnic background." The parties are also in favor of "continuing joint actions aimed at strengthening the UN’s core and coordinating role in ensuring international peace, security and sustainable development and enhancing the effectiveness of its activities." "We are ready to step up and expand cooperation within this and other international and regional organizations," the document reads. Read more