Russia: US missiles in Asia would be ‘threat to international security’ – Zakharova

W/S Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova arriving to press conference, Pyatigorsk
W/S Journalists
SOT, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson (Russian): "We consider it important to strictly adhere to all the agreements on Idlib aimed both at continuing the fight against terrorists and ensuring security for civilians. In this context, we will continue to interact with Turkey in the framework of the Sochi memorandum of September 17, 2018."
M/S Journalist *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson (Russian): "The reasons for the Russian request are serious: it is the US' intentions regarding the deployment of medium-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region. It is clear that this is the first step and such weapons may appear in other regions, including Europe. The things that are happening are leading to increased tension in the world, we have repeatedly discussed it, we explained this problem especially intensively in the recent times and we did not do it alone, we did it with our Chinese partners. The US actions pose a threat to international security, it was also stated more than once, so we found it necessary to request a briefing in the UN Security Council to draw the attention of the international community to this problem."
W/S Zakharova leaving
SCRIPT
Possible US placement of missiles in the Asia-Pacific region would pose a threat to international security, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at her weekly press briefing in Pyatigorsk on Thursday.
“It is clear that this is the first step and such weapons may appear in other regions, including Europe. The things that happening are leading to increased tension in the world,” stressed Zakharova.
The spokesperson added that Russia and China requested the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday “to draw the attention of the international community” to Washington’s actions, after the Pentagon announced on Monday that US military had carried out a cruise missile test.
Discussing current situation in Syria, Zakharova stated that Russia considers it important “to strictly adhere to all the agreements on Idlib aimed both at continuing the fight against terrorists and ensuring security for civilians.”