Syria
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen rejected Russian criticism on Thursday of the alliance's possible deployment of Patriot missiles near Turkey's border with Syria.
Russia said earlier it opposed the deployment of the surface-to-air missiles, which Ankara has asked NATO for because it fears spillover from the civil war in its neighbour.
"This would not foster stability in the region," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
Rasmussen, who was greeted by 100 anti-NATO protesters when he arrived to give a speech at the University of Zurich, said Russia's criticism was "not justified".
"We have made clear from the outset we will do what it takes to defend our ally Turkey," he said in answer to a question.
Rasmussen said the deployment of the Patriot missiles, which can be used to intercept missiles or planes, would "serve as a deterrent to possible enemies even thinking of attacks" and help "preserve stability along our southern borders".
The move would be "purely defensive", he said.
I was just about write about the Russia comment on below, but I see NATO Chief already made comment the above so I copy to his comment.
Russia on Thursday warned Turkey against deploying surface-to-air Patriot missiles to protect its troubled border with Syria, saying it should instead use its influence to help broker peace in the war-torn country.
"The militarisation of the Syrian-Turkish border is of course a worrying sign," foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told a briefing.
Turkey, he said, should use its influence with the Syrian opposition to help the two sides in the civil war start a dialogue as soon as possible instead of "flexing muscles and placing the situation on a dangerous course."
"Such steps clearly do not add optimism from the point of view of a political settlement," he told reporters regarding the possible missile placement.Russia as we all know unethical stands, out of date unsc veto supporting terrorist assad mass killing Syrian people commit unspeakable atrocity to million of Syrian people. Russia power is not power but bully, ugliest of all which is based on misery of millions of Syrian people, that can not sustainable and world remember it surely! Russia will be a great loser in middle east and eventually everywhere else too. The below is terrorist Assad airstrike on a Aleppo hospital, people searching for life under rubble that is what Russia stands for! Airstrike on bread lines that is what Russia stands for! Killing babies and children that is what Russia stands for!
