Slutsky: referendum in Turkey not to affect its ties with Russia

The chairman of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky, believes that the outcome of the Turkish referendum will cause no harm to relations of partnership with Russia.

"Relations with Turkey are no easy ones, but they are unequivocally keynoted by partnership in the economy and politics. There are no reasons to doubt their future in the wake of the just-held referendum," TASS cited Slutsky as saying.

He is certain that Russia and Turkey will maintain a constructive dialog in Astana over a settlement in Syria.

The chairman of the State Duma’s international affairs committee said Russia respected the right of the Turkish people to determine their constitutional system.

"This is an internal affair of Turkey," Slutsky said, adding that the narrow margin of victory achieved in the referendum by the supporters of presidential rule demonstrated the wide variety of opinions in Turkish society.

"Support for the opposition from a number of European capitals indicates that the West finds the Turkish president’s growing powers worrisome," Slutsky concluded.