File photo
The U.S., U.K. and France are preparing to strike Syria due to the Assad regime using chemical weapons in Idlib, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
‘They’re planning a chemical attack’
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday that Western powers are preparing to blame a chemical attack that will take place in Idlib’s Jissr al-Shughur region on the Syrian regime.
Konashenkov said militants who have been trained by specialists of the U.K. private military company Olive to handle chemical warfare agents have also arrived in Idlib, noting that they have been tasked to simulate a rescue operation for locals allegedly hurt in the chemical attack and will be clad in the outfits of the White Helmets group.
"The U.S. Navy’s destroyer Sullivans with 56 cruise missiles on its board arrived in the Persian Gulf several days ago while a B-1B strategic bomber of the US Air Force armed with AGM-158 JASSM air-to-surface missiles was redeployed to the al-Udeid air base in Qatar," the Russian general said.
"The staging of this provocation with the active participation of the UK special services is set to serve as a new pretext for missile and bomb strikes by the United States, Great Britain and France," he continued.
"Therefore, the actions by Western countries contrary to public statements are aimed at another dramatic escalation of the situation in the Middle East and at disrupting the peace process on the territory of Syria," he concluded.
Austria's foreign minister on Saturday rejected fierce criticism over her deep curtsey to Russian President Vladimir Putin at her wedding last week, saying the gesture was not an act of submission."That was interpreted as an act of submission, but people who know me know I do not submit to anybody," Karin Kneissl said in an interview on Austrian radio ORF, adding that such a curtsey was customary at the end of a dance and that Putin had bowed to her first.Kneissl was at the centre of a storm of criticism over her bow to the Russian leader, with some commentators accusing her of a naive gesture that would hurt her country's reputation.Kneissl, 53, a polyglot Middle East expert without political affiliation, was appointed to her job by the far-right Freedom Party which has a cooperation agreement with Putin's United Russia Party.
Austrian minister says curtsey to Putin was not a sign of submission
Turkey and Russia seek to cooperate in building a Turkish space agency.Turkish Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank met Russian Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Konstantin Noskov on the sidelines of the G20 Digital Economy Ministerial Meeting in the northern Argentine province of Salta.Turkish space agency has been included in Turkey's 100-day action plan unveiled after the Justice and Development (AK) Party’s victory in elections this past June.The two ministers exchanged views on the establishment of the agency and on the potential for cooperation afterwards.Both ministers addressed increasing foreign direct investments in Turkey as well as boosting investments of Turkish entrepreneurs in Russia.Varank and Noskov also agreed to set up a working group in the fields of information technologies and telecommunications.
Turkey, Russia discuss cooperation in technology
The Turkish foreign minister on Friday stressed that bilateral ties with Russia were significant for the region’s security and stability.“The contacts between the two head of states [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin] are very important for the security, welfare and stability of the region, as well as for the two countries,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan.Cavusoglu made his remarks following a meeting with Rustam Minnikhanov, the president of Tatarstan, located in the southwest of the Russian Federation.Earlier, Cavusoglu met Russian President Vladimir Putin and his couterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow for what he called “fruitful” talks.Improving bilateral relations, Syria and other regional issues were on the ministers’ agenda, Cavusoglu said.He also emphasized that Russia is an important partner for Turkey.Minnikhanov also underlined the importance of Turkey-Russia relations.“I am glad that the Turkish and Russian leaders have similar perspectives and are strategic partners,” he said.Minnikhanov also thanked Turkey for investments in Tatarstan.“I am sure that we will launch scores of joint projects in the upcoming period,” he said.
Ties with Russia crucial for region: Turkish FM