State Duma calls for demanding response from Western countries in UN regarding weapons supplies to ISIL militants
MOSCOW. Oct 16 (Interfax) - The issue of western weapon supplies to ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra militants should be raised within the platforms of the United Nations and other international organizations, State Duma Defense Committee first deputy head Andrei Krasov said.
"We have long had the right to ask the Western coalition led by the United States about how 'jihad mobiles' with mounted machineguns appear in populated localities controlled by terrorist organizations and western arms produced by the U.S., Belgium and France have appeared at terrorist organizations' warehouses," Krasov, a United Russia faction member, told Interfax on Monday.
Russia "is entitled to demand that the governments of these countries give an answer as to why in this case they are sponsoring terrorist organizations such as ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra [outlawed in Russia], supplying them with lethal weapons," he said.
"They appear to back terrorist organizations. It is necessary for the leaders of Western countries to report on these issues," the parliamentarian said.
"We can raise these issues within the platforms of the BRICS, CSTO [the Collective Security Treaty Organization], SCO [the Shanghai Cooperation Organization] and within the UN platform," Krasov also said.
He finds it necessary to clarify "why we keep on talking about terrorism as an evil, against which it is necessary to fight, but at the same time, some fight it, while others fight on the side of terrorist organizations."
"As if, heaven forbid, another terrorist attacks similar to those, which have taken place in Belgium and France, are needed, so that some will get that terrorism is an evil, which can be defeated only by the entire world," Krasov said.
It is necessary to establish an international committee to investigate the causes and context of American, French and Belgian weapons falling into the hands of ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia) militants, State Duma Defense Committee head Vladimir Shamanov, a United Russia faction member, told Interfax earlier.