Vladimir Putin
had a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director
of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin
and Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander
Bortnikov.
December 19, 2016
22:45
The Kremlin, Moscow
1 of 4
Meeting with
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left), Director of the Foreign
Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin (right) and Director
of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov.
President
of Russia Vladimir Putin: Tragic news has arrived from Turkey,
where Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was brutally murdered.
First
of all, I would like to express my deepest condolences
to the family and friends of our departed colleague.
I ask
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to award Mr Karlov a state
decoration posthumously and to make proposals on how best
to honour his memory. He died in the line of duty.
This was
an outstanding diplomat who was highly regarded in Turkey
and had very good relations with Turkish top officials and other
political forces, who respected him.
Mr Karlov was
a very intelligent, gentle and kind man. I knew him personally.
During my last trip in Turkey this autumn he was constantly
by my side.
This crime is
undeniably a provocation aimed at derailing the normalisation
of Russian-Turkish relations and the peace process
in Syria, which is actively promoted by Russia, Turkey, Iran
and other countries interested in the settlement
of the internal conflict in Syria.
There can be
only one response – stepping up the fight against terrorism –
which the criminals will find out firsthand.
Russia’s
Investigative Committee has already opened a case on the murder,
and has been tasked with forming a working group which will promptly
leave for Ankara to take part in the investigation
of this crime together with Turkish partners. This was just agreed during
a telephone conversation with the President of Turkey. We must
find out who directed the killer’s hand.
Security must
be tightened at Turkish diplomatic missions in Russia,
the embassy, and other missions, and the Turkish side
should provide assurances on security at Russian diplomatic offices
in accordance with Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
I also
ask you to introduce coordinated proposals on tightening security
measures at Russian diplomatic missions abroad.
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