Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, November 19, 2015
19 November 201520:51
2259-19-11-2015
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s upcoming visit to Turkey
On November 25, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will pay a working visit to Turkey to attend the 5th meeting of the Russian-Turkish Joint Strategic Planning Group, part of the Russian-Turkish presidential High Level Cooperation Council, in Istanbul.
It is planned that participants will engage in an in-depth exchange of views on a broad range of pressing bilateral, regional and international issues. The discussion will touch upon the situation in Syria and the Middle East, the North Africa region as a whole and the Cyprus settlement. The meeting will focus on how to increase efficiency in the fight against terrorism. The participants in the meeting will also continue the dialogue on issues related to the situation in Ukraine, South Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as on the subject of cooperation in international organisations.
The ministerial talks will address issues that may be included in the agenda of the next meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s upcoming meeting with Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Walid Muallem in Moscow
Yesterday, Special Presidential Representative for Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov commented on reports about the possibility of contact in Moscow next week between Russian and Syrian foreign ministers.
Let me reiterate that talks between the Russian and Syrian foreign ministers are likely to be held in Moscow next week. We are expecting confirmation from the protocol department. As soon as we know the concrete date and format of the meeting, we’ll certainly inform you additionally.
The current situation in Syria
The latest developments in and around Syria were marked by intense diplomatic activity focused on the second ministerial meeting of the International Syrian Support Group in Vienna on November 14. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Special Presidential Representative for Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov have provided very detailed assessments.
We intend to step up efforts to implement the Vienna agreements, which, as we see it, afford us an immediate opportunity to put on track an intra-Syrian negotiating process in the interests of achieving a political settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30, 2012.
We continue our efforts to find solutions in the context of a political settlement of the Syrian crisis, which is, in fact, our number one problem and priority. We are also working intensively within the framework of the Vienna process and at the UN, among other venues, trying to consolidate the world’s counterterrorist efforts in the fight against ISIS and other international terrorist groups and organisations.
Let me remind you that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov presented a relevant draft resolution to the UN Security Council. Considering international developments, the Russian delegation submitted a revised draft resolution to the UN Security Council yesterday. We hope for productive cooperation with France and other Security Council members in updating and approving this resolution.
Let me draw your attention to Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin’s detailed comments regarding ongoing work on the draft.
I’d like to add that the core meaning of the Russian draft remains the same despite amendments that have been introduced. It emphasises the importance of unity and coordination of efforts by the entire world community in the fight against terrorism. At the same time, the draft certainly reflects the fundamentally new situation that has taken shape after the tragic events in Paris and Sinai. On this basis, we count on the international community’s exceptional solidarity and hope for a most open and partner-like cooperation in finalising and promoting our draft, particularly with our French colleagues.
President Vladimir Putin’s instructions to the Foreign Ministry
The Foreign Ministry’s statement is a fundamental urge to reaffirm and re-declare the global community’s political will, unity and solidarity in countering terrorism by substantiating this solidarity with specific steps and measures.
Let me remind you that the world has faced other serious global terrorist threats. After the September 2001 attack in the US, Russia was one of the first states to offer comprehensive assistance to its US partners in investigating, searching and holding the perpetrators accountable. We also expressed a willingness to cooperate on enforcement and intelligence activities. The cooperation and assistance offered by the Russian Federation at that time were unprecedented in the terms of openness and confidence. Russia continues to believe that only concerned, proactive and depoliticised international cooperation within the professional community of intelligence and law enforcement agencies can provide the necessary counterterrorism efforts. We hope that our foreign partners share similar views.
Final accountability without any ulterior motives or preconditions for terrorists is a key point in any effective fight against terrorism.
It is necessary to exclude the possibility for terrorists to find refuge and hide by playing on political differences, double standards, legal inconsistencies or the imperfections of the international-treaty framework, or to prepare for new massacres using these contradictions. Sometimes, they commit these attacks against those states in which they base themselves.
In this regard, we would like to focus on the importance of global cooperation in holding terrorists responsible.
On suspended flights to Egypt
On November 8, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed Executive Order #553 On Measures to Provide for the Russian Federation’s National Security and Protect Russian Citizens against Criminal and Other Illegal Activities. Under the document, a temporary ban was introduced on the same day on civil aviation flights from the Russian Federation to the Arab Republic of Egypt, save for flights in work-related purposes.
Under paragraph 2 of the Executive Order, tour operators and travel agents have been asked to refrain from selling tours that involve flights (including commercial flights) from the Russian Federation to the Arab Republic of Egypt. I’d like to clarify that this recommendation concerns all flights to Egypt, regardless of the country the airline is based in.
Let me also reiterate that the State Civil Aviation Authority of Russia and the Federal Agency for Tourism together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other organisations and concerned departments continue working to assist Russian citizens, who are still on holiday in Egypt, return home. Russian tourists are advised to maintain close contact with their Russian tour operators and travel agents.
For more details phone hotline numbers +7-495-926-55-11 at the Crisis Management Centre Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, 8-800-100-40-61 (for calls from Russia) and +7-499-995-57-26 (from outside Russia) at the Russian Emergencies Ministry, as well as hotlines in our organisations abroad. These numbers are also available on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website. The phones are on and Russian citizens can always receive help if they call.
On Russian citizen’s death in Paris terror attacks on November 13, 2015
The information on the death of a Russian citizen in the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13 has been confirmed.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Russian citizen Natalya Lauren-Muravyova (b.1975) died in the ISIS terrorist attacks at the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 13. She was identified by her husband Serge Lauren on the evening of November 17.
The Russian Embassy in Paris is doing its best to assist the relatives of the killed Russian woman.
Our condolences to her family.
International experts on cooperation with Russia
You all know how consistent and clear Russia has been in its push for joint efforts of all international players in combating terrorism. We have been asking ourselves what else should happen in order for the international community to eventually realise that the terrorist threat is a common evil.
I understand that sometimes our words fall on deaf ears or are simply ignored in a bid to portray us as a “propaganda machine”. Of late, we have begun substantiating our point with quotations from persons who wield authority with the Western audience. Their names have been propped up by their deeds, stood the test of time, which can’t be said about many “talking heads” whom we see and hear so often in Western capitals and who talk all sorts of nonsense and heresy.
I have picked several quotations, which confirm well our point that we have repeated all along.
No one can reproach the former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, for having ever failed to pursue the US interests or ever supporting Russia’s position contrary to his country’s interests. But on November 16, speaking at a global security forum in Washington, Mr Kissinger said: “Russia is trying to prevent the emergence and consolidation of this kind of radical Islamist [threat], and in that respect their objectives, developed on their own, are really parallel with ours. So I see a possibility - in fact, a likelihood - that we could come to an understanding with Russia.”
Here is another quotation – from a statement made by a key European politician, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland, taken from his interview given to the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv: “There is no stopping ISIS except by military force. A political solution in Syria cannot be reached without curbing ISIS. What this solution will be like will become clear during a dialogue. The United States and Russia have common goals – destroying ISIS and creating stability. No one is interested in enhancing the chaos gripping the region. The fallout is already reverberating across Europe. If things continue like that, a disaster will be inevitable.”
I cannot but quote a former French prime minister, Francois Fillon, who, in an interview with the Europe 1 radio station, said: “Rejecting an alliance with Russia and a dialogue with Iran is a fundamental mistake.”
We have been saying that all along. Each time I stand at this lectern, I realise that time is being lost. And now not only time, but also human lives are being lost. For years, people have been killed in Syria but no one paid attention to them as if those were second-rate people. But now that trouble befell Europe, it’s time to come to our senses and understand that everything possible needs to be done to consolidate efforts in the fight against terrorism.
Latest migration data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
According to the IOM, the number of registered refugees who have reached Europe via the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2015 is approaching 800,000 and will exceed one million by the end of the year.
Greece has accepted the largest group of migrants this year, around 650,000, compared to 32,000 migrants who reached the country via the Mediterranean in 2014. Italy has accepted the second largest number of refugees, over 140,000, which is 10 percent fewer than last year. IOM statistics indicate that the route via Italy is the most dangerous of all: 2,860 people have died crossing the Mediterranean in search of a better life.
The organisation is concerned that many European countries have proved themselves unprepared for the inflow of refugees, and therefore fail to substantiate claims of being protectors of human values.
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said in a recent interview that Syrian men arriving in Europe should be sent back to Syria to liberate their homeland. “Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have come to Europe recently. We can help them form an army,” he said. He expressed resentment that “tens of thousands of young men disembark from their rubber dinghies with iPad in hand and instead of asking for drink or food, they ask where they can charge their cell phones.”
Does this mean that only first-class citizens have the right to own gadgets?
I’d like to cite the above figure again: 2,860 people have died crossing the Mediterranean. I don’t think these people risked their lives because they had a happy and sustainable life in their homeland. So much for European values and human rights.
The crisis has forced many European countries to change their legislation rapidly, regardless of the accepted standards and the human dimension. Debates on changing the legislation are underway in Ireland. The country’s Minister of Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, has proposed amending legislation over the alarming situation brought on by uncontrolled immigration. The new national security laws would give police the right to enter private homes in order to arrest individuals who are to be deported under court decisions; to extend the detention of these individuals; to allow people to stay at airports and ports until their deportation; and to give the Ministry of Justice the right to extradite those prison inmates who have not completed the naturalisation procedure; to arrest applicants for refugee status if they pose a threat to national security, and so on.
How does this relate to the human rights dimension, about which we have been lectured so often? The Western media have counted the Syrian refugees in Russia and are monitoring their progress here. But they neglect to mention that we have accepted, and continue to accept, thousands of refugees from Ukraine, Syria and other countries, or that the proportion of these refugees is incomparably larger than the number of those who have entered any other European country.
Terror attacks in northeastern Nigeria
A number of terrorist attacks took place on November 17 in the city of Yola and on November 18 in the city of Kano, northeastern Nigeria. About 50 people were killed and a significant number injured in a series of bomb attacks in public places. According to the Russian embassy in Abuja, there are no casualties among Russian nationals.
We resolutely condemn these latest bloody acts against civilians in which the radical Boko Haram group has reportedly been involved. We reiterate the need to consolidate the international community’s efforts in fighting transborder terrorism.
We express solidarity with the government of Nigeria and countries in the subregion in countering the extremist threat.
The situation in the Republic of Burundi
The situation in the Republic of Burundi remains complicated. On the night of November 15÷16, a series of armed attacks on civilian infrastructure and police officers took place in the country’s capital Bujumbura, and the mayor’s residency came under fire. One person was reported killed and several injured.
According to the Russian embassy in Burundi, no Russian nationals were injured.
We resolutely condemn the ongoing attempts to destabilise the situation in the capital of Burundi by force. We have noted that the latest round of tension occurred following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2248 on Burundi and the start of operations in the country of the National Inter-Burundian Dialogue Commission amid active steps by the East African community to mediate the establishment of inclusive political dialogue between the Burundi authorities and the opposition.
We act on the premise that the resolution to Burundi’s internal problems should be sought at the negotiating table with the unconditional cessation of violence, faithful observance of human rights and the rule of law.
We will closely watch the situation in this African country.
The situation in Ukraine
On November 12, Kiev and representatives from Donbass notified the OSCE special monitoring mission in writing about the implementation of the agreements regarding the withdrawal of tanks, artillery systems with a caliber less than 100 mm and mortars with a caliber less than 120 mm from the line of contact. Now the permanent locations of the redeployed weapon systems will be inspected by OSCE observers who are implementing the relevant verification procedures. The completion of the withdrawal is an important step towards the further de-escalation of the situation in southeastern Ukraine.
At the same time, we cannot help but be concerned by the increasing provocations along the line of contact recently, the exchange of fire between both sides, including the use of prohibited heavy and light weapons.
The escalation of the situation in the conflict zone was a central issue at a recent meeting of the Contact Group that took place in Minsk on November 17. Its participants urged both sides to immediately stop all action that contravenes the agreements and the efforts to resolve the conflict by peaceful means within the framework of the Minsk process. A relevant appeal was made at a news conference by Martin Sajdik, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.
We are confident that maintaining the ceasefire and creating prerequisites for a long-term truce will significantly reduce the risk of the recurrence of armed confrontation in southeastern Ukraine.
Under these circumstances, the parties practical steps towards a political settlement are taking center stage. Kiev’s direct dialogue with Donetsk and Lugansk should be aimed at achieving mutually acceptable solutions on the key issues outlined in the February 12 Minsk Package of Measures. This refers to the organisation of local elections, granting Donbass special, permanent constitutional status and the enactment of a comprehensive amnesty law. It is important to focus on the resolution of pressing problems in the region’s social and economic reconstruction and the implementation of measures to improve the difficult humanitarian situation there.
In this context I cannot help but note certain quotes from remarks by Paul Roberts, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, at the International Conference on the European/Russian Crisis Created by Washington, which took place in June in Greece. The former high ranking representative of the US administration says that “Ukrainian democracy meant nothing to Washington. Washington was intent on seizing Ukraine in order to present Russia with a security problem and also to justify sanctions against "Russian aggression" in order to break up Russia's growing economic and political relationships with Europe.” Roberts notes that Washington is doing all it can to “demonise” Russia, using every trick in the book, from information “leaks” to psychological profiles. This shows who is assessing the ongoing events in the world and how realistically.
Roberts also quotes the answer by one high ranking Pentagon officials to the question of how America managed to have foreign governments act in Washington's interest rather than in the interest of their own countries. He said, "Money… We give the politicians bags full of money."
UN General Assembly resolution on unilateral economic coercive measures
I can’t forget about another thing: apart from the “suitcases of money” mentioned by a past US representative, there are other methods, including financial and economic pressure. The UN General Assembly resolution on unilateral economic coercive measures was devoted to opposing this.
On November 12, the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly (117 “for”, 51 abstentions, and 2 “against”) in favour of a resolution denouncing unilateral economic measures as a means of political and economic coercion, which was proposed by the Group of 77 developing countries that includes, among others, our BRICS partners. Given the urgency of the sanctions theme, Russia co-authored the resolution.
The approved document instructs the UN Secretary-General to conduct comprehensive monitoring of cases involving the use of unilateral economic restrictions. Apart from that, their impact on the affected states’ trade and development will be studied. The document calls on the world community to take urgent and effective steps to put an end to the use of unilateral economic restrictions, which contradict the principles of international law and standards in the multilateral trade system.
Addressing the General Assembly in September of this year, President Vladimir Putin stated that unilateral sanctions in circumvention of the UN Charter had become almost standard practice. Approving a resolution denouncing this practice demonstrates that increasingly more UN member-states share our concerns and give thought to the risks, with which the proliferation of these measures threatens the powers reserved for the UN Security Council in matters of maintaining international peace and security.
We hope that while monitoring the cases of employment of unilateral economic measures, the Secretary-General will take into account the situation facing the Russian Federation.
From answers to questions
Question: When does Russia expect the UN to consider the Russian draft, given the latest developments? When is this resolution likely to be approved?
Maria Zakharova: The draft resolution is on the table. Our groundwork is being studied by our Security Council partners and colleagues. We are studying their proposals, they introduce theirs. Given that we submitted the draft resolution on September 30, it’s high time we had a date for considering it.
I‘ve seen various comments and statements regarding the timeframe for approval. Even specific dates were named. People familiar with how the UN Security Council operates would know that the case in point is a process. Hopefully, no one will drag it out on purpose. We’re ready to work constructively and take into account the opinions, viewpoints and contributions of other countries. To reiterate: the current situation certainly calls for this document to be approved as soon as possible. This is a process, of course, and it doesn’t imply an imposition of fixed timeframes. We hope for very intensive, effective and productive work with all UN Security Council members on this document.
Question: We have noticed the Russophobic statements of Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in his interview with the British press. Can you please comment on them?
Maria Zakharova: We read another interview with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev for The Independent newspaper. I’ll tell those who don’t know that the President of Bulgaria has reached a very strong and strange conclusion, to put it mildly, that Russia is behind recent hacking attacks on the websites of Bulgaria’s government agencies and its Central Election Commission. This conclusion is based on the assumption that only a few countries in the world can allegedly stage a large-scale provocation in the form of a hybrid war on the Balkan Peninsula.
If you read this interview, you’ll immediately notice a lack of arguments. Previously used, planted or voiced clichés are being repeated. These clichés might even be called fantasies. For example, this includes a recent statement by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov alleging that Russian military aircraft reportedly violated a certain Bulgarian security zone. First of all, it should be understood that Bulgarian systems of objective verification have failed to officially record any violations of the country’s air space. On October 12, 2015, Bulgarian Ambassador to Russia Boyko Kotsev was told about this at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
All this would probably sound funny, but here we are talking about the presidential level and a statement by the head of state. Therefore all one can do is advise that he should find competent aides who can warn him against future mistakes, and who can describe specific developments using professional language. It appears that we are talking about a mistake, and I don’t think that he is deliberately making groundless statements. It should be understood that there is a difference between neutral air space over the Black Sea and that of Bulgaria. Certainly, the Russian Air Force has not violated that country’s air space, nor does it intend to. Of course, very clear assessments should be made at this high level, and one should understand what he’s talking about. Hopefully, a politician who is president of a country whose people are linked with Russia by long ties of friendship will refrain from making such groundless, loud and strange statements in the future.
You mentioned Russophobia. I would like to say that Russophobia was a trend from a previous time. The current times focus on pragmatism and realism. I would advise those who want to follow the latest fashions but who have no style of their own to keep an eye on global trends.
Question: Is it fair to say that countries not involved in the military operation in Syria are safe from the terrorist threat? Is the Russian Foreign Ministry planning to create a list of countries with a low risk of terrorism for Russian tourists to avoid panic and give them a more clear idea of the situation?
Maria Zakharova: It is very important to maintain a healthy and pragmatic balance between a realistic view of the situation and to avoid panic, let alone impose panic.
As for the Russian Foreign Ministry’s recommendations, the Ministry’s website has a special section that has been running for many years. We are in contact with the professional community, that is, tourism organisations. We know that this section has been used and taken into consideration.
The work is being done. We have been updating the information promptly and accurately. Decisions are, of course, based on the whole set of factors.
As for the next possible targets for terror attacks, we have been discussing it a lot. Why do we call this problem our common, international problem? All organisations and structures involved in counter-terrorist activities have long acknowledged that international terrorism has no borders or boundaries unless it has to come face to face with a consolidated international community. Therefore, nobody at this stage, as before, is 100 percent safe from the threat of international terrorism. We have reiterated this idea time and again in our speeches. Hence we have been calling for activating channels of cooperation with partners rather than closing them.
Look, are there many countries that can compete with France in terms of wellbeing? It is a successful and progressively developing nation with wonderful people and joie de vivre. Did any of them expect such a massacre at the heart of one of the largest capitals not only in Europe, but in the world? People were not venturing anywhere dangerous. They were simply going to the theatre, a restaurant and the stadium. They weren’t deliberately taking any risk. Parents didn’t expect to risk anything when they let their children go out. Nobody expected their next-door quarters to become a scene where their child or other family member could die. What can we say? Are there any corners in the world where people could feel protected against such atrocities?
There is only one solution: professional expert interaction between all countries, joint efforts, information sharing and proactive international cooperation in the fight against international terrorism.
Question: I have a question about Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Turkey. You said that his agenda includes South Caucasus issues. Will there be discussions of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and the peacekeeping efforts?
Maria Zakharova: I don’t have any additional information on this.
Question: US President Barack Obama said yesterday that there can be no political settlement in Syria while President Bashar al-Assad remains in power, and that Syria’s civil war will not end until al-Assad steps down. At the same time, the Russian Foreign Minister said there can be no peace in Syria without President al-Assad’s participation.
We know that Russia and the United States have recently signed a document that says clearly that it is Syrians who must decide the future of their leaders. Will US-Russian differences hinder the implementation of the Vienna agreements?
Maria Zakharova: Let’s go step by step. There has been a terrorist attack in France, which has launched a counter-terrorist operation. Suspects have been found and surrounded in Saint Denis and other districts. The suspected terrorist ringleader holed up in an apartment. Do you think that yesterday, after killing Parisians due to France’s involvement in the fight against ISIS, which was his main explanation, he holed up in an apartment and shot at police because he wanted al-Assad to step down? Of course not. He doesn’t care if al-Assad steps down or not. He is a terrorist, with an ideology that differs from the ideology of normal people. How is the series of terrorist attacks in France connected to the resignation of the Syrian President? Did the terrorists demand this? Did they shout “Down with al-Assad” when blowing up and shooting people? No, they killed because they have a distorted ideology and because they oppose, as we see it, France’s intention to fight international terrorism. What does President al-Assad have to do with this? Where is the connection? There’s no connection.
I believe that we are witnessing a global review of the Syrian developments over the past years. Unfortunately, this review has not been precipitated by theoretical research, analyses or expert considerations, but by atrocities. We have heard them say that protection is guaranteed, but unfortunately people have been left defenceless despite NATO’s intensified presence in Europe. Unfortunately, new realities have led to the need for a review. As I see it, global leaders have been forced to listen to the opinion of people who see they have been driven into a trap.
So, how does President al-Assad relate to this? Of course, there is a political crisis in Syria, about which many countries are concerned. But setting preconditions to counter-terrorist efforts is criminal, and saying that President al-Assad must leave before the international community starts fighting terrorism is criminal. This is criminal logic. It condemns innocent people in other countries to suffer a tragedy similar to that which has befallen Paris, and not only Paris. Unfortunately, Russians have had their share of suffering, too.
As I said, conditioning the counter-terrorist efforts on President al-Assad’s resignation under the pretext that the efforts would be impossible or ineffective otherwise amounts to playing into the hands of terrorists. We have said that terrorists exploit our differences, including in our countries’ stances, and when they see that we haven’t joined forces against them, they build up and strengthen their activity.
Question: Yesterday, ISIS circulated the photo of the bomb that was planted in the airliner, as well as the photos of some Russian passports. Are those indeed the passports of people who were aboard the plane?
Who is behind the terrorist attack, ISIS or some other terrorist organisations? They have claimed responsibility, but Russia has not yet stated its position on the issue.
Maria Zakharova: Regarding the photos of passports and other pictures that have been published, this is a question for our experts, who deal with counterterrorism in their line of service.
Regarding the fact that international terrorism stands behind this, this has been stated at all levels in our country. So I can only refer you to the statements that were made earlier.
We have no information regarding specific perpetrators. Hence, the appeal to our foreign partners to provide information and data, if there are any, and cooperate in the effort to find and punish the perpetrators. These people have yet to be found. However, there is absolutely no doubt that they are linked to international terrorism. Our experts have information to that effect.
Question: Has Russia been involved in brokering the ceasefire between the Syrian armed opposition and the Syrian army in Eastern Ghouta? I believe it was a two-week ceasefire.
Maria Zakharova: I do not have such information. I can check and get back to you later.
Question: Is Russia planning to fight ISIS as a matter of priority?
Russians and people all over the world greatly sympathised with the Paris tragedy. Why was there not the same kind of response to the reports of the terrorist attack aboard the Russian airliner? How do you account for this?
Maria Zakharova: I’ll start with your second question, regarding who reacts where and how, strongly or not. I cannot measure reaction in grammes or centimetres. I see sincere pain and compassion. First, during the first few days when the news broke about the air crash, when there was not even preliminary information as to whether it was a terrorist attack, we received a great number of condolences. When, based on the information available, it was finally concluded that it was a terrorist attack, there was a second round of condolences. You should understand this. You know, I posted a note on social media saying that an Italian citizen was the first to send me condolences and a drawing of our plane against the backdrop of a Russian flag. I personally don’t know him. I’ve never met him. However, he sent it to me with just one word: “Solidarity.” How can you measure its impact? It made an indelible impression on me. I posted this information and it instantly spread across social media, the Internet and even TV. This, despite the fact that it was the second round of condolences. So, human compassion should not be gauged with measures or scales. We see that there is empathy. Books of condolences were filled until they overflowed. I urge you not to do this.
It’s another matter the way terrorist attacks are covered by media abroad, and here, I cannot help but agree with you. These are indeed double standards. Yesterday, I read a story about how over the past 15 years, major media outlets abroad – not ordinary people, but people who by virtue of their official position are supposed to analyse this situation in depth – have commented on terrorist attacks in Russia and abroad. To reiterate, this is not a matter of empathy or condolences, but an expert analysis by journalists. I’m posting the link to the text of this briefing (http://ruposters.ru/news/18-11-2015/takie-raznye-terakty), so that you can read and see how prejudicially the counterterrorist efforts were covered that were taken by Russia over many years in response to terrorist attacks. This prejudice really exists.
I very much hope that these times are behind us and that Western journalists will not treat this pain depending on what their position is and they will understand that we in Russia also take all of this close to heart, that we are as hurt in our hearts and minds as people abroad when such things happen. If the father of a Russian child is killed, he feels the same pain as a child in France or Spain or London.
Regarding ISIS. Why ISIS? This is not because we like or dislike the name but because it is the largest and most powerful terrorist organisation, number one on the list. However, this does not mean that some preferences will be made one way or the other. We have an understanding of what organisations are terrorist organisations. The Ministry of Defence, at its daily briefings, tells you which targets are engaged. ISIS is the largest organisation; we recognise this, but other terrorist organisations are also targets in this fight.
Question: Will Russia intensify its air attacks against ISIS?
Maria Zakharova: The question about the intensity of current military strikes should be addressed to the Ministry of Defence. They’ll give you a detailed account.
" rel="111">Question: Please comment on French President François Hollande’s visit to Russia on November 26. Are there any details regarding the agenda?
Earlier today, the PRC Foreign Ministry confirmed the execution of a Chinese citizen. Is Russia working with its Chinese colleagues on fighting ISIS?
Maria Zakharova: We certainly would like to convey condolences to families whose relatives have been executed or killed by ISIS. We saw this report. We are maintaining a dialogue with our Chinese colleagues, including on issues related to combating terrorism. I’d like to stress that we don’t differentiate between countries. We only welcome any state’s desire, intention and willingness to cooperate on this issue. Therefore we maintain and will continue to maintain the relevant dialogue with China and other countries that haven’t unilaterally closed the channel for cooperation on counterterrorism issues.
As far as the visit by French President François Hollande is concerned, these issues are traditionally commented on by President Vladimir Putin’s Press Service.
Question: We have often heard that Syria will be another Afghanistan for Russia. There have been terrorist attacks in Paris. It turns out that this is a time-bomb that can explode in any part of the world, and it’s not just about Russia.
Maria Zakharova: As we continue to say, statements to the effect that Syria will become another Afghanistan for Russia are part of a propaganda campaign. This is understandable. We can see who ordered it and who did it. It was done on purpose. Why was this done? For Russians, for the Russian people, the citizens of our country and the post-Soviet space, the independent states that used to be part of the Soviet Union, there are some very painful issues, in personal terms, in terms of family histories. Afghanistan is one of these because people our parents’ age went through all that and remember everything. Many of them were directly involved in this and some were indirectly affected. A repetition of Afghanistan is unacceptable to us. This is why this has been played up with the use of dirty, inappropriate, below-the-belt methods. Within hours, they mounted a propaganda campaign, comparing one counterterrorist operation to the events of those years, which have nothing in common. Now, talk about a second Afghanistan has waned. Indeed, how can you possibly talk about a second Afghanistan when each European capital is talking about the urgent need to form a broad international coalition? You cannot possibly “build up” a second Afghanistan here. It doesn’t fit.
Over the past month and a half we have gone through several similar campaigns, which began right in front of our eyes and then fizzled out. As they say, people, be vigilant! Unfortunately, this is not the last time that we’ll encounter these distractions. To reiterate, consciousness seems to be returning. As mentioned earlier, this process is not moving from above but from people who understand that they are becoming hostage to the dead-end policy and ambitions of their leaders. No one wants to die. Everyone expects to be protected by his government. When, for four years, they are told about a mythical villain who will leave and everything will change, people are also beginning to understand that they are being duped. As I said, the terrorists entrenched in Paris are not concerned about Bashar al-Assad – they are interested in Parisians.
Question: If the UN Security Council does not adopt the resolution that was submitted yesterday, what other options does your country have to consolidate the world community in the fight against ISIS?
Maria Zakharova: I believe that now it is critical to focus not on pessimistic forecasts but on getting everyone on board. If we start speculating on what will happen if it doesn’t work out, we are admitting that this effort can be reduced to nothing. We have been saying for an entire hour that time has been lost and that lives have been lost. This should always be remembered. It should be an incentive for everyone to work out the final text. I believe that everyone needs to show maximum common sense, realism and pragmatism and understand that the time that we had for certain countries to gain leadership or watch their own reflection in the mirror to see how great they are, how powerful their body mass is, is over. Now there is just barely enough time to unite as a matter of urgency, lay sound legal groundwork and go into action.
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