UPDATE - ‘Turkey helped Russia foil terrorist attack’

UPDATES WITH RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER SERGEY SHOYGU, SERGEY RUDSKOY AND DEPUTY UN ENVOY FOR SYRIA COMMENTS

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian security service prevented a terrorist attack in Saint Petersburg thanks to Turkey’s help, Federal Security Service Director Alexander Bortnikov said on Wednesday.

A terrorist attack was planned last year on the New Year eve in Saint Petersburg, Bortnikov said, speaking at a Moscow International Security Conference in Russian capital.

Last year, the U.S. also warned Russia about impending terrorist attack in Saint Petersburg during New Year holiday, he recalled.

"At the same time one more terrorist attack was prevented thanks to information got from our Turkish partners. This helped to save hundreds of lives. This is an example of the responsible cooperation in anti-terrorism effort," he said.

He added that global terrorism can be defeated only by joint efforts of special services of different countries.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said the U.S. coalition is pursuing economic interests in Syria.

"It is difficult to believe that the most powerful coalition could not cope with terrorists. The aim is likely to have been different, to tarnish the situation and to strengthen economic and military presence in the region," he said.

Terrorists, defeated in Syria and Libya, are making their way to African countries, and returning to Asia and Europe, thereby increasing the terrorist threat in these regions, Shoygu warned.

"Terrorists from defeated Daesh are getting to other regions, terrorists activities are increasing in Africa, jihadists are returning to Asia and Europe. As a consequence cross-border crime is growing," he said.

Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, the UN deputy special envoy for Syria, commenting on the Russian military operation in Syria, said the strategy on defeating Daesh proved to be right.

"It was not enough to restrain Daesh. Russia and other countries, which insisted on the strategy of defeating Deash and eliminating it radically, proved this strategy was right," he said.

The UN wants to work with all countries on stabilization in Syria, Ramzy added. He also said that the beginning of constitutional reform, strengthening of de-escalation zones and widening of trust is currently on the agenda.

Speaking about the possible date of a new round of Geneva talks on Syria, he said: "Soon, God willing."

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Sergey Rudskoy, head of operative administration of the Russian General Staff, said the U.S. is preparing Syria for a new war.

"The U.S. has set a course on partition of Syria, and is now laying the conflict potential, which sooner or later will be transformed into a new war, where everyone will be against everyone," Rudskoy said.