'Unless the Syrian territorial integrity is solved, Kurdish issue may explode'

*Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive

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In a statement on Monday (October 5), Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov said that "unless the issue of Syrian territorial integrity was solved, the Kurdish problem might explode" in the region.

As reported by Russia's TASS news agency, Minister Sergey Lavrov said, "It is always a blatant violation of international law to play with territorial integrity of any country. In this specific case, it is not about Syria alone, but also about the Kurdish issue that may explode in a way that will make the current situation appear, well, far less serious."

Lavrov noted the Kurdish issue involved a wide range of countries in the Middle East. "Invitation to separatism - and not just an invitation, but active promotion of separatism - may end very badly," he asserted.

"Once again, this is done by a country from far beyond the ocean, while the consequences will be dealt with by the countries of the region, as well as Europe - and we [Russia] is not too far away ourselves."

Lavrov also noted that Russia proposed an initiative to develop a security concept in the Persian Gulf region, involving all Arab nations, Iran, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations (UN) Security Council permanent members and the European Union (EU).

"I hope that the time has come when too many problems have accumulated both in the Persian Gulf, and around it, including the Middle East and Northern Africa in general. It is unavoidably necessary to sit down and negotiate," Sergey Lavrov indicated further.

The TASS news agency has further reminded its readers that in September, US senator Lindsey Graham announced that a US company signed a direct agreement with the Kurds. (PT/SD)