Russia, the United States and Turkey should increase the level of security in Syria, which has declined significantly since Ankara launched a military operation in the North-East of the Arab Republic, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said today, speaking at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
"We strongly hope that the steps that are being taken now - our cooperation with our Turkish and American colleagues-will still allow us not to lower but to increase the level of security and stability in this region. And the events that have been taking place in recent days, they, unfortunately, lead us to not the most optimistic thoughts," RIA Novosti quoted the Minister as saying.
Shoygu also said that "part of the camps and some of the places where terrorists from several dozen countries were held, ceased to be protected, and the terrorists began to "spread".
"Where they will go next - no one knows. But at today's short, tactical stage of cooperation, in our opinion, this is a problem that requires immediate solution, " he stressed.
The Beijing Xiangshan forum is attended by representatives of senior management, Defense Ministers, as well as leading experts from the Asia-Pacific Region (APR) and several European countries.
The Forum is organized by the China Association for Military Science and the China Institute for International Strategic Studies.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Алексей Никольский/ТАСС