Russian president will not change approach to Syrian conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russia will not change its approach to Syria and urges an end to violence and the shipment of weapons, RIA Novosti reports.

Russia wants positive development of the situation for many years ahead. Putin agreed that the UN had failed to find common grounds on the problem. He reminded that the League of Nations had been closed because it had been taking sides.

The Russian president said that someone had been using Al Qaeda and other organizations for own interests in Syria. He reminded that Al Qaeda was formed when the Soviet Union entered Afghanistan.

Putin believes that the problem with Syria lies in the need for changes. No stable political structures to resolve economic and social problems have been formed, he says.

The president brought up the drug-trafficking problem. He said that over 20% of Afghan drug trafficking takes place on the Russian territory. 70 tons of heroin this year and about 56 tons of opium are a threat to Russia’s national security, Putin notes.

Drug trafficking from Afghanistan increased by 60% last year. Foreign military presence does not improve the situation and worsens it instead.

The Russian leader supposes that not a single state wants to aggravate its position with fights against drug dealers. 9% of Afghan GDP is formed from drug sales.