Stabilization Of Situation In Middle East Concerns Asia Pacific States - Shoigu

SINGAPORE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2018) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday called on the members of the ASEAN and Dialogue Partners Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM-Plus) to join the humanitarian and rebuilding efforts in Syria, noting that the stabilization of the situation in the middle East concerned the Asia Pacific states, too.

"This country faces an acute need for help of the international community today ... Together, we can create favorable conditions for the return of the refugees to their homes and the normalization of the situation in Syria. We can also prevent the revival of the Islamic State terror group [banned in Russia] in the Middle East, which means thwarting its spread in the Asia Pacific region," Shoigu said at the ADMM-Plus meeting in Singapore.

Syrian population needed food, living essentials, medicinal drugs, construction materials and equipment as well as the restoration of critical infrastructure objects and demining of the territory, Shoigu noted.

The defense minister reiterated the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin who had called for the creation of a "wide anti-terror front with the central coordinating role of the United Nations and the norms of international law being observed without any hidden agendas and double standards."

Shoigu noted that the Asia Pacific states have already contributed to the fight against terrorism and extremism.