Russian DM Calls for 'All Reasonable Powers' to Unite to Fight Terrorism

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that there is unacceptable to "double or even, at times, triple standards" in fight against terrorism.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — The fight against terrorism requires increased cooperation of many powers and does not tolerate double standards, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

"What is absolutely unacceptable in terms of the fight against terrorism is the use of the double or even, at times, triple standards…. The serious consolidation of all reasonable powers is necessary to fight this 21st century's evil," Shoigu said at the session of the India-Russia intergovernmental commission on military and technical cooperation.

Shoigu also alluded to the problem of distinguishing between terrorists and moderate opposition, which hindered the collaboration between Russia and the United States in Syria.

"Terrorists cannot go from being terrorists on Monday to being moderate opposition on Tuesday," Shoigu said.

The Kremlin, which backs the government forces in the Syrian conflict, has repeatedly stressed that Washington has been unwilling or unable to delineate the so-called moderate opposition groups it supports and terrorists.