Russia’s bid for the world’s leadership in struggle against terrorism, primarily against Islamic State (IS) that the country announced at the United Nations General Assembly has been substantiated by actions after the Federation Council upper house of parliament approved the use of Russian Armed Forces in Syria, Chairman of the State Duma lower house committee for international affairs Alexey Pushkov told TASS on Wednesday.
"Evidently, the Russian president’s speech at the United Nations should be substantiated by concrete actions as it cannot remain just a declaration," Pushkov said. "Otherwise, we would have been like the US Administration that had been long assuring the whole world it was fighting IS."
"However, as we all know, no harm has been inflicted on IS which positions turned out to be just strengthened," the lawmaker said.
"Majority of the world community was expecting a decision like this one from Russia," he went on to say. "IS produces fear rather than just concern and worries as it is for the first time ever when the organisation using terror tactics and pursuing the most radical goals has set a task to establish its own state."
"Although the United States dubbed certain countries as terrorist nations, it was done in a sort of propaganda," Pushkov said. "And Islamic State presents a possibility and threat that a consolidated terrorist state may emerge."
Pushkov, who was listening to national leaders’ speeches in the UN General Assembly hall, said "the demand for leadership in this sphere [the fight against terrorism] was in the air then."
"[We] were impatiently awaiting an answer from Barack Obama whether the US is capable of such leadership, but he ducked this answer," he said adding "Putin gave the right answer to this question. He said that Russia believed it necessary and considered IS the main threat."
Source: TASS
