Fight against IS requires partnership, including among intelligence agencies - Lavrov
MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for joint international efforts, including among intelligence agencies, to fight terrorism.
"For us to efficiently fight the terror threat, including the one emanating from the so-called Islamic State, a truly universal pool of efforts is needed, which would rely on international law, with due regard for the role of the UN SC [United Nations Security Council], and will be backed up by a network of partnership ties, including among intelligence agencies," Lavrov told a press conference after talks with the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Madani.
When asked about the discovery by Australian intelligence of the radioactive material designed to create a 'dirty bomb', Lavrov said it was odd that this piece of information was reported in the media.
"It is odd that intelligence agents immediately go public with their investigation results instead of informing those who can help prevent crime," he said.
Lavrov said that intelligence cooperation will help "check information quickly and efficiently, and in the event of its confirmation take concrete steps, including not necessarily public ones."
At present, such work is not properly established, the minister said. "The Russian Federation has broad ties with many partners, including in the framework of multilateral entities across the CIS, and similar ties with non-CIS countries too, but, regrettably, many of these contacts with our European, American partners have been frozen at their initiative," the Russian foreign minister said.
