Sun Oct 18, 2015 12:19:48
The aim of Russia's military operation in Syria is not to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power but to defeat ISIS militants, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.
Russia began air strikes in Syria in late September, in a move which Moscow says is weakening ISIS militants but which Western powers say aims to support Assad.
"Russia, the United States, and all other states that have a stake in seeing peace in this region and in Syria, and a strong government, too, should be discussing precisely political issues," Medvedev said in an interview with Rossiya TV channel.
"It does not really matter who will be at the helm. We don't want ISIS to run Syria, do we? It should be a civilized and legitimate government. This is what we need to discuss," Medvedev said, using another name for the ISIS.
Asked whether Syria had to be ruled by Assad, Medvedev said: "No, absolutely not. It is up to the Syrian people to decide who will be the head of Syria.... At the moment, we operate on the premise that al-Assad is the legitimate president."
According to Russia, its air force has made 669 sorties, hitting 456 targets in Syria, since the start of the operation on Sept. 30.
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