Russia dismisses Erdogan's Syria 'boutique' state claims
Russia has rejected as pure fabrication claims by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Moscow is planning to establish a "boutique" state in Syria.
“They are inventing, I can't think of a different verb here, and disseminating various conspiracy theories about some true reasons of Russia (presence) in Syria,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday.
Erdogan claimed on Tuesday that Russia is dubiously working to establish a "boutique" Syrian state in and around the northern Syrian province of Latakia, which borders Turkey.
The Turkish leader again repeated previous allegations that Russia’s air campaign in Syria, which started last September at the official request of the Syrian government, is not meant to fight Takfiri Daesh militants.
Zakharova reiterated that Russia will stick with its position of supporting the territorial integrity of Syria, adding that unlike Turkey, Russia pursues some “clear and transparent goals” in the Middle East.
“Turkey is playing a hidden game in the region, pursuing its narrow interests,” she said, again accusing Turkey of providing support to Takfiri militants operating in Syria.
Tensions between Turkey and Russia boiled over after Ankara downed a Russian fighter jet on November 24, 2015, near the Syrian border. Moscow then imposed an array of economic sanctions on Turkey while suspending all military agreements with Ankara over the attack.
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