tass--2020-02-28--Thai company develops disinfectant against coronavirus

BANGKOK , February 28 .
/TASS/ .
A Thai biotechnical company DOVE Biotech has developed a disinfectant that can protect against viral diseases , including coronavirus , the company ’ s CEO Fillip Sharifi said in an interview with TASS .
The disinfectant developed by an international research team , including Russian scientists , is named Antinfek 30D .
According to him , `` disinfectant that destroys viruses , bacteria and fungi , including mold , can be used everywhere - from filters for air conditioners so that the outgoing air becomes cleaner to face masks . ''
`` After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a microscopic film is formed that protects against bacteria and viruses .
It remains active for more than seven days on solid surfaces and 12 hours on the skin '' , Sharifi explained .
`` It does not cause any allergic reaction or have side effects , it is not orally toxic , does not contain heavy metals and other hazardous substances , '' the company ’ s CEO added .
He confirmed that the disinfectant could eliminate coronavirus , avian and swine flu , as well as other viral diseases , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` For example , if you spray your hands with Antinfek 30D before going out and have physical contact with an infected person , then his disease will not be transmitted to you . ''
`` The factory in Thailand is already operating and in China , a factory with a capacity of 4 million liters per day is planned to become operating in March , '' Sharifi summed up .
According to the recent data of the Thai Health Ministry , the total number of people infected with novel coronavirus in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have recovered .
In late December 2019 , Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , central China .
Coronavirus cases have been reported in at least 50 countries outside of China , including Russia .
According to Chinese authorities , over 78,800 people have been infected with the virus in the country .
The death toll has reached 2,788 , while over 36,100 patients have recovered .
WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus COVID-19 .

BANGKOK, February 28. /TASS/. A Thai biotechnical company DOVE Biotech has developed a disinfectant that can protect against viral diseases, including coronavirus, the company’s CEO Fillip Sharifi said in an interview with TASS. The disinfectant developed by an international research team, including Russian scientists, is named Antinfek 30D.
According to him, "disinfectant that destroys viruses, bacteria and fungi, including mold, can be used everywhere - from filters for air conditioners so that the outgoing air becomes cleaner to face masks."
"After it is sprayed on a surface, a microscopic film is formed that protects against bacteria and viruses. It remains active for more than seven days on solid surfaces and 12 hours on the skin", Sharifi explained.
"It does not cause any allergic reaction or have side effects, it is not orally toxic, does not contain heavy metals and other hazardous substances," the company’s CEO added.
He confirmed that the disinfectant could eliminate coronavirus, avian and swine flu, as well as other viral diseases, which has been proven by official tests. "For example, if you spray your hands with Antinfek 30D before going out and have physical contact with an infected person, then his disease will not be transmitted to you."
"The factory in Thailand is already operating and in China, a factory with a capacity of 4 million liters per day is planned to become operating in March," Sharifi summed up.
Coronavirus outbreak
According to the recent data of the Thai Health Ministry, the total number of people infected with novel coronavirus in the country has reached 41, while 28 people have recovered.
In late December 2019, Chinese authorities notified the World Health Organization (WHO) about an outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, central China. Coronavirus cases have been reported in at least 50 countries outside of China, including Russia. According to Chinese authorities, over 78,800 people have been infected with the virus in the country. The death toll has reached 2,788, while over 36,100 patients have recovered. WHO declared the outbreak of the novel coronavirus a global health emergency and named the virus COVID-19.


tass--2020-02-28--Russia's Finance Ministry to revise budget parameters considering coronavirus in spring

`` It should be seen how long-term the consequences of the virus are .
I think that we will revise the outlook and our budget estimates in the spring .
Currently we have an extraordinary ( budget revision ) on the address .
Currently the amendments consider solely the address , '' he said , adding that global economic growth will be lower than expected .
MOSCOW , February 28 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Finance Ministry will revise the outlook and parameters of 2020 budget considering the aftermath of the novel coronavirus spread in the spring , Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` However , we do not know how the situation will unfold , '' the minister emphasized .
On February 19 , Russia ’ s government submitted amendments to the federal budget for 2020 and the planned period of 2021-2022 to the State Duma ( lower house of parliament ) .
The Finance Ministry has revised a number of budget parameters due to a possible effect of implementation of social measures announced by President Vladimir Putin in State of the Nation Address .
The Central Bank said earlier that the decline in global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus might bear major risks for production activity in Russia .
Experts interviewed by TASS projected that the coronavirus spread across the globe , particularly the outbreak in Italy , might result in currency instability and negative implications for the ruble ’ s exchange rate , as well as put pressure on global oil prices .
The Chinese authorities registered an outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019 .
The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed in 52 other countries and territories , including in Russia .
According to the latest data , 2,788 people have died in China , around 36,100 have recovered , while the overall number of people who contracted the novel coronavirus has exceeded 78,800 .

"It should be seen how long-term the consequences of the virus are. I think that we will revise the outlook and our budget estimates in the spring. Currently we have an extraordinary (budget revision) on the address. Currently the amendments consider solely the address," he said, adding that global economic growth will be lower than expected.
MOSCOW, February 28. /TASS/. Russia’s Finance Ministry will revise the outlook and parameters of 2020 budget considering the aftermath of the novel coronavirus spread in the spring, Minister Anton Siluanov told reporters on Friday.
"However, we do not know how the situation will unfold," the minister emphasized.
On February 19, Russia’s government submitted amendments to the federal budget for 2020 and the planned period of 2021-2022 to the State Duma (lower house of parliament). The Finance Ministry has revised a number of budget parameters due to a possible effect of implementation of social measures announced by President Vladimir Putin in State of the Nation Address.
The Central Bank said earlier that the decline in global demand due to the spread of the novel coronavirus might bear major risks for production activity in Russia.
Experts interviewed by TASS projected that the coronavirus spread across the globe, particularly the outbreak in Italy, might result in currency instability and negative implications for the ruble’s exchange rate, as well as put pressure on global oil prices.
The Chinese authorities registered an outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Coronavirus cases were confirmed in 52 other countries and territories, including in Russia. According to the latest data, 2,788 people have died in China, around 36,100 have recovered, while the overall number of people who contracted the novel coronavirus has exceeded 78,800.


tass--2020-03-01--Russian Football Union employees taken to hospital as precaution after vacations in Italy

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
An employee of the Russian Football Union has been placed in hospital after returning from coronavirus-hit Italy , the Union ’ s press service told TASS on Sunday .
`` The Russian Football Union ’ s medical committee confirms that one of the organization ’ s employees , who has returned from vacations in Italy , is now in a Moscow hospital .
He has no virus infections and was placed in hospital as a precaution .
He feels well , his health is out of danger , '' the press service said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports more than 1,000 novel coronavirus cases .
Twenty-nine patients have died .
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus ( previously known as 2019-nCoV ) was reported in China ’ s city of Wuhan , a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million , in late December .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency , characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple foci .
Cases of the new coronavirus have also been reported from 50 other @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. An employee of the Russian Football Union has been placed in hospital after returning from coronavirus-hit Italy, the Union’s press service told TASS on Sunday.
"The Russian Football Union’s medical committee confirms that one of the organization’s employees, who has returned from vacations in Italy, is now in a Moscow hospital. He has no virus infections and was placed in hospital as a precaution. He feels well, his health is out of danger," the press service said, not disclosing his name.
Italy reports more than 1,000 novel coronavirus cases. Twenty-nine patients have died.
A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in China’s city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple foci. Cases of the new coronavirus have also been reported from 50 other countries, including Russia.


tass--2020-03-01--Kiev hopes to organize another exchange of detainees with Donbass republics in March

KIEV , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Ukraine hopes to organize another exchange of detainees with the self-proclaimed republics in @ @ @ @ @ Yermak , chief of the Ukrainian president ’ s office , said on Sunday at @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian presidential administration Dmitry Kozak in Minsk .
`` Yermak mentioned plans to @ @ @ @ @ in March .
Participants in the meeting noted the necessity to continue talks to implement @ @ @ @ @ latest summit in the Normandy format , '' the Ukrainian presidential office said .
Kiev @ @ @ @ @ prisoners earlier on December 29 , 2019 , after a two-year break in the process @ @ @ @ @ put near the Gorlovka-Mayorskoye checkpoint .
Ukraine released 124 people and the Donbass republics handed @ @ @ @ @ .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristaiko said on February 18 that Kiev planned to organize @ @ @ @ @ the Donbass republics before the next meeting of the Normandy Four ( Germany , France @ @ @ @ @ leaders in April .

KIEV, March 1. /TASS/. Ukraine hopes to organize another exchange of detainees with the self-proclaimed republics in Donbass in March, Andrei Yermak, chief of the Ukrainian president’s office, said on Sunday at a meeting with deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Dmitry Kozak in Minsk.
"Yermak mentioned plans to organize another round of exchange in March. Participants in the meeting noted the necessity to continue talks to implement the agreements reached during the latest summit in the Normandy format," the Ukrainian presidential office said.
Kiev and the Donbass republics exchanged prisoners earlier on December 29, 2019, after a two-year break in the process. The swap was carried put near the Gorlovka-Mayorskoye checkpoint. Ukraine released 124 people and the Donbass republics handed over to Kiev 76 people.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadim Pristaiko said on February 18 that Kiev planned to organize another large-scale prisoner exchange with the Donbass republics before the next meeting of the Normandy Four (Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine) leaders in April.


tass--2020-03-01--Russia, Turkish presidents reiterate commitment to Sochi agreements - Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
The upcoming talks between Russian and Turkish Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan , that is expected to be held in Moscow are not promising to be smooth but the presidents reiterate their commitment to the Sochi agreements on peace settlement in Syria , Putin ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday .
`` Yes , it ( the meeting ) will take place in Moscow on March 5 or 6 .
We hope .
It is being prepared now .
Obviously , it will not be an easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all reiterate their determination to settle the situation in Idlib and their commitment to the Sochi agreements .
It is important , '' he said in an interview with the Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel .
According to the Kremlin spokesman , the two leaders will exchange views `` on how the Sochi agreements are being implemented . ''
The situation around Idlib aggravated on February 27 when , according to the Russian defense ministry , militants attempted a large-scale attack .
The Syrian government army retaliated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ankara claims , killed 33 Turkish soldiers .
The Russian defense ministry said however that the Turkish soldiers who had come under fire from the Syria army were fighting along with the terrorists .
The current aggravation was in a focus of a telephone conversation between Russian and Turkish Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
They stressed the necessity of the normalization of the situation and agreed to look at a possible top-level meeting in the coming days .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. The upcoming talks between Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that is expected to be held in Moscow are not promising to be smooth but the presidents reiterate their commitment to the Sochi agreements on peace settlement in Syria, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.
"Yes, it (the meeting) will take place in Moscow on March 5 or 6. We hope. It is being prepared now. Obviously, it will not be an easy meeting but the heads of state after all reiterate their determination to settle the situation in Idlib and their commitment to the Sochi agreements. It is important," he said in an interview with the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.
According to the Kremlin spokesman, the two leaders will exchange views "on how the Sochi agreements are being implemented."
The situation around Idlib aggravated on February 27 when, according to the Russian defense ministry, militants attempted a large-scale attack. The Syrian government army retaliated by delivering a strike, which, Ankara claims, killed 33 Turkish soldiers. The Russian defense ministry said however that the Turkish soldiers who had come under fire from the Syria army were fighting along with the terrorists.
The current aggravation was in a focus of a telephone conversation between Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They stressed the necessity of the normalization of the situation and agreed to look at a possible top-level meeting in the coming days.


tass--2020-03-01--Syrian air defense systems down six Turkish combat drones - source

DAMASCUS / Syria/ , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Six Turkish combat drones have been destroyed by Syrian air defense systems , a source in the Syrian defense ministry said on Sunday .
`` On March 1 , 2020 , Syrian air defense systems destroyed six combat unmanned aerial vehicles of the Turkish army over the Idlib de-escalation zone , '' the source said .
According to the source , the drone were delivering strikes on the positions of the Syrian government army to provide backing to terrorist groups .
Syria ’ s SANA news agency said earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saraqib in the Idlib governorate a Turkish drone belonging to a terrorist group .
It also reported that Turkey ’ s forces had downed two planes of the Syrian government army in the Idlib governorate .
According to the agency , the pilots ejected with parachutes and reached the ground safely .
Turkey ’ s national defense ministry said on Sunday that two Syrian Su-24 fighter jets had been downed over Idlib .
`` Two Su-24 jets of the [ Syrian President Bashar ] Assad regime , which attacked our planes , have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

DAMASCUS / Syria/, March 1. /TASS/. Six Turkish combat drones have been destroyed by Syrian air defense systems, a source in the Syrian defense ministry said on Sunday.
"On March 1, 2020, Syrian air defense systems destroyed six combat unmanned aerial vehicles of the Turkish army over the Idlib de-escalation zone," the source said.
According to the source, the drone were delivering strikes on the positions of the Syrian government army to provide backing to terrorist groups.
He also told that Turkish F-16 fighter jets downed two warplanes of the Syrian Air Forces over the Idlib de-escalation zone.
"Turkish F-16 intruded Ayria’s airspace two times. They attacked and downed two planes of the Syrian Air Forces over the Idlib de-escalation zone. The pilots managed to eject themselves," the source said, adding that now they are in safety.
The source recalled that airspace over the Idlib de-escalation zone had been closed from March 1, 2020.
Turkey’s national defense ministry said on Sunday that two Syrian Su-24 fighter jets had been downed over Idlib. "Two Su-24 jets of the [Syrian President Bashar] Assad regime, which attacked our planes, have been downed," the ministry said.


tass--2020-03-01--Counter-terrorist efforts in Syria will be continued, pledged Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Counter-terrorist efforts in Syria will be continued , Russian president ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Moscow .
Kremlin .
Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel on Sunday .
Peskov noted that Russian military facilities in Syria also come under shelling by terrorists .
`` That is why , fight against these terrorist elements will be continued against all the odds , '' he said .
He stressed that under the Sochi agreements Turkey was supposed to ensure inaction of these elements .
`` Regrettably , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and terrorists have gone over to the offensive against Syrian armed forces , '' he added .
Peskov recalled that Russia is the only country to have its soldiers in Syria `` at the request from the Syrian legitimate government . ''
`` Servicemen of all other countries are staying in Syria in violation of the norms and principles of international law , '' he added .
The situation around Idlib aggravated on February 27 when , according to the Russian defense ministry , militants attempted a large-scale attack .
The Syrian government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which , Ankara claims , killed 33 Turkish soldiers .
The Russian defense ministry said however that the Turkish soldiers who had come under fire from the Syria army were fighting along with the terrorists .
The current aggravation was in a focus of a telephone conversation between Russian and Turkish Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
They stressed the necessity of the normalization of the situation and agreed to look at a possible top-level meeting in the coming days .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Counter-terrorist efforts in Syria will be continued, Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin program on the Rossiya-1 television channel on Sunday.
Peskov noted that Russian military facilities in Syria also come under shelling by terrorists. "That is why, fight against these terrorist elements will be continued against all the odds," he said.
He stressed that under the Sochi agreements Turkey was supposed to ensure inaction of these elements. "Regrettably, Turkey has failed to implement its commitments and terrorists have gone over to the offensive against Syrian armed forces," he added.
Peskov recalled that Russia is the only country to have its soldiers in Syria "at the request from the Syrian legitimate government." "Servicemen of all other countries are staying in Syria in violation of the norms and principles of international law," he added.
The situation around Idlib aggravated on February 27 when, according to the Russian defense ministry, militants attempted a large-scale attack. The Syrian government army retaliated by delivering a strike, which, Ankara claims, killed 33 Turkish soldiers. The Russian defense ministry said however that the Turkish soldiers who had come under fire from the Syria army were fighting along with the terrorists.
The current aggravation was in a focus of a telephone conversation between Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They stressed the necessity of the normalization of the situation and agreed to look at a possible top-level meeting in the coming days.


tass--2020-03-01--Sputnik Turkiye editor-in-chief released in Istanbul

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Mahir Boztepe , editor-in-chief of Sputnik Turkiye , the Turkish bureau of Russia @ @ @ @ @ , has been released by the Turkish authorities in Istanbul , a Sputnik Turkiey spokesperson @ @ @ @ @ `` Yes , that ’ s true , '' the spokesman said when asked to @ @ @ @ @ .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. Mahir Boztepe, editor-in-chief of Sputnik Turkiye, the Turkish bureau of Russia’s Sputnik news agency, has been released by the Turkish authorities in Istanbul, a Sputnik Turkiey spokesperson told TASS on Sunday.
"Yes, that’s true," the spokesman said when asked to confirm Boztepe’s release.
Earlier in the day, the Ankara prosecutor’s office released three Sputnik journalists.
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel earlier on Sunday that the police was searching the agency’s Istanbul office under an official warrant. She also wrote that the three Sputnik Turkiye employees, who had been detained earlier, were taken to the Palace of Justice for questioning. According to Simonyan, practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals.
On Saturday night, Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara, accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet.
Later, the Sozcu newspaper said that the police had detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency’s website titled "The Stolen Province: Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago." The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate.
On Sunday, the Russian foreign ministry called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of Sputnik employees. It also demanded security of Russin media employees be properly ensured. The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency’s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights.
Rossiya Segodnya called on the United Nations, OSCE, UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists to take notice of this situation.


tass--2020-03-01--No elements of crime found with three Sputnik journalists - Turkish prosecution authority

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
No elements of crime have been found with the three journalists Sputnik Turkiye , the Turkish bureau of Russia ’ s Sputnik news agency , who were detained in Ankara , the city ’ s prosecution authority said on Sunday .
`` No elements of crime have been found with either of the three Sputnik agency employees .
It was decided to release them , '' it said in a press statement .
One of the released journalists told reporters that the three had been summoned to the prosecutor ’ s office over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s website titled `` The Stolen Province : Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago . ''
The journalists , in her words , explained they personally had nothing to do with this material .
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group , RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel earlier on Sunday that the police was searching the agency ’ s Istanbul office under an official warrant .
She also wrote that the three Sputnik Turkiye employees , who had been detained earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice for questioning .
According to Simonyan , practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals .
On Saturday night , Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara , accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet .
Later , the Sozcu newspaper said that the police had detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency ’ s website titled `` The Stolen Province : Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate .
On Sunday , the Russian foreign ministry called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of Sputnik employees .
It also demanded security of Russin media employees be properly ensured .
The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency ’ s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights .
Rossiya Segodnya called on the United Nations , OSCE , UNESCO and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notice of this situation .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. No elements of crime have been found with the three journalists Sputnik Turkiye, the Turkish bureau of Russia’s Sputnik news agency, who were detained in Ankara, the city’s prosecution authority said on Sunday.
"No elements of crime have been found with either of the three Sputnik agency employees. It was decided to release them," it said in a press statement.
One of the released journalists told reporters that the three had been summoned to the prosecutor’s office over a publication on the news agency’s website titled "The Stolen Province: Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago." The journalists, in her words, explained they personally had nothing to do with this material.
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel earlier on Sunday that the police was searching the agency’s Istanbul office under an official warrant. She also wrote that the three Sputnik Turkiye employees, who had been detained earlier, were taken to the Palace of Justice for questioning. According to Simonyan, practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals.
On Saturday night, Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara, accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet.
Later, the Sozcu newspaper said that the police had detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency’s website titled "The Stolen Province: Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago." The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate.
On Sunday, the Russian foreign ministry called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of Sputnik employees. It also demanded security of Russin media employees be properly ensured. The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency’s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights.
Rossiya Segodnya called on the United Nations, OSCE, UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists to take notice of this situation.


tass--2020-03-01--Lavrov tells Cavusoglu that situation around Sputnik Turkiye must be resolved swiftly

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for immediate measures to settle the situation around Sputnik Turkiye employees , the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday after Lavrov ’ telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart , Mevlut Cavusoglu .
`` The Russian side stressed that the situation around journalists and employees of Sputnik news agency in Ankara must be resolved the soonest possible .
He also demanded their security be ensured , '' the ministry said .
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group , RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police was searching the agency ’ s Istanbul office under an official warrant .
She also wrote that the three Sputnik Turkiye employees , who had been detained earlier , were taken to the Palace of Justice for questioning .
According to Simonyan , practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals .
On Saturday night , Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara , accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet .
Later , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency ’ s website titled `` The Stolen Province : Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago . ''
The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for immediate measures to settle the situation around Sputnik Turkiye employees, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday after Lavrov’ telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu.
"The Russian side stressed that the situation around journalists and employees of Sputnik news agency in Ankara must be resolved the soonest possible. He also demanded their security be ensured," the ministry said.
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel earlier on Sunday that the police was searching the agency’s Istanbul office under an official warrant. She also wrote that the three Sputnik Turkiye employees, who had been detained earlier, were taken to the Palace of Justice for questioning. According to Simonyan, practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals.
On Saturday night, Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara, accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet.
Later, the Sozcu newspaper said that the police had detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency’s website titled "The Stolen Province: Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago." The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate.


tass--2020-03-01--Sputnik journalists released in Ankara

Sputnik journalists released in Ankara

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Journalists of Sputnik Turkiye , the Turkish bureau of Russia ’ s Sputnik news agency , have been released after being questioned by the police in Ankara , the journalists ’ relatives told TASS on Sunday .
`` All of them have been released after being questioned , '' one of them said .
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group , RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel earlier on Sunday that the police was searching the agency ’ s Istanbul office under an official warrant .
She also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had been detained earlier , were taken to the Palace of Justice for questioning .
According to Simonyan , practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals .
On Saturday night , Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara , accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet .
Later , the Sozcu newspaper said that the police had detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency ’ s website titled `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago . ''
The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate .
On Sunday , the Russian foreign ministry called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of Sputnik employees .
It also demanded security of Russin media employees be properly ensured .
The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency ’ s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations , OSCE , UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists to take notice of this situation .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. Journalists of Sputnik Turkiye, the Turkish bureau of Russia’s Sputnik news agency, have been released after being questioned by the police in Ankara, the journalists’ relatives told TASS on Sunday.
"All of them have been released after being questioned," one of them said.
Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel earlier on Sunday that the police was searching the agency’s Istanbul office under an official warrant. She also wrote that the three Sputnik Turkiye employees, who had been detained earlier, were taken to the Palace of Justice for questioning. According to Simonyan, practically all Spitnik Turkiye employees are Turkish nationals.
On Saturday night, Simonyan wrote that unidentified persons had broken into the apartments of three Sputnik employees in Ankara, accusing them of high treason because of their work for a Russian mass media outlet.
Later, the Sozcu newspaper said that the police had detrained these three journalists over a publication on the news agency’s website titled "The Stolen Province: Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago." The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate.
On Sunday, the Russian foreign ministry called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of Sputnik employees. It also demanded security of Russin media employees be properly ensured. The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency’s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights.
Rossiya Segodnya called on the United Nations, OSCE, UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists to take notice of this situation.


tass--2020-03-01--Russian, Turkish top diplomats discuss preparations for Putin-Erdogan meeting

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Preparations for an upcoming meeting between Russian and Turkish Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan , were in focus of telephone talks between the two countries ’ foreign ministers , Sergey Lavrov of Russia and Mevlut Cavusoglu of Turkey , the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday .
`` The sides discussed preparations for an upcoming meetings between Presidents Putin and Erdogan , '' the ministry said .
The two top diplomats also agreed that measures were needed to create a favorable atmosphere for dialogue on Syrian settlement , the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telephone conversation .
`` The ministers spoke in favor of measures to create favorable atmosphere promoting the efficiency of dialogue on the implementation of agreements in support of Syrian settlement and on other issues on the agenda of the Russian-Turkish relations , '' the ministry said .
Russian president ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday said on Saturday that Putin and Erdogan could meet in Moscow on March 5 or 6 .
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that preparations were underway to organize the two leaders ’ meeting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however where these meeting would take place .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Preparations for an upcoming meeting between Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, were in focus of telephone talks between the two countries’ foreign ministers, Sergey Lavrov of Russia and Mevlut Cavusoglu of Turkey, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday.
"The sides discussed preparations for an upcoming meetings between Presidents Putin and Erdogan," the ministry said.
The two top diplomats also agreed that measures were needed to create a favorable atmosphere for dialogue on Syrian settlement, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday after their telephone conversation.
"The ministers spoke in favor of measures to create favorable atmosphere promoting the efficiency of dialogue on the implementation of agreements in support of Syrian settlement and on other issues on the agenda of the Russian-Turkish relations," the ministry said.
Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday said on Saturday that Putin and Erdogan could meet in Moscow on March 5 or 6. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that preparations were underway to organize the two leaders’ meeting on these dates. He did not say however where these meeting would take place.


tass--2020-03-01--Tit-for-tat measures against Turkish media to follow - diplomatic sources in Moscow

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Tit-for-tat measures against Turkish mass media will follow soon , a diplomatic source @ @ @ @ @ Sunday following the detention of Sputnik Turkiye employees in Turkey .
`` Response measures against @ @ @ @ @ '' the source said .
On Sunday , the Russian foreign ministry called on the @ @ @ @ @ situation with the detention of Sputnik employees on February 29 .
It also demanded security @ @ @ @ @ properly ensured .
The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency ’ s staff @ @ @ @ @ flagrant violation of their rights .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Tit-for-tat measures against Turkish mass media will follow soon, a diplomatic source in Moscow told TASS on Sunday following the detention of Sputnik Turkiye employees in Turkey.
"Response measures against Turkish media will follow," the source said.
On Sunday, the Russian foreign ministry called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of Sputnik employees on February 29. It also demanded security of Russin media employees be properly ensured. The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency’s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights.


tass--2020-03-01--Cavusoglu and Lavorv hold telephone talks ahead of Putin-Erdogan meeting - source

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Turkish and Russian Foreign Ministers , Mevlut Cavusoglu and Sergey Lavorv , on Sunday had telephone talks ahead of a meeting between the two presidents , Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia , a source in the Turkish foreign ministry told TASS .
`` Our minister had talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov .
They discussed [ various ] topics ahead of a meeting between the leaders [ of the two nations ] , '' he said .
Russian president ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erdogan could meet in Moscow on March 5 or 6 .
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that preparations were underway to organize the two leaders ’ meeting on these dates .
He did not say however where these meeting would take place .
The situation around Syria ’ s Idlib governorate aggravated again overnight to February 28 , when , according to the Turkish side , 36 Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack by Syrian government forces .
Following this incident , the Turkish forces delivered strikes at the positions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 targets .
Meanwhile , the Russian defense ministry said that on February 27 militants of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( also known as Jabhat al-Nusra , a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia ) had attempted a large-scale offensive in Idlib .
The Turkish soldier who came under shelling by Syrian troops were among the attacking militants , the Russian ministry said .
It vowed that Russian warplanes had made no sorties in that area .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. Turkish and Russian Foreign Ministers, Mevlut Cavusoglu and Sergey Lavorv, on Sunday had telephone talks ahead of a meeting between the two presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia, a source in the Turkish foreign ministry told TASS.
"Our minister had talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. They discussed [various] topics ahead of a meeting between the leaders [of the two nations]," he said.
Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday said on Saturday that Putin and Erdogan could meet in Moscow on March 5 or 6. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed that preparations were underway to organize the two leaders’ meeting on these dates. He did not say however where these meeting would take place.
The situation around Syria’s Idlib governorate aggravated again overnight to February 28, when, according to the Turkish side, 36 Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack by Syrian government forces. Following this incident, the Turkish forces delivered strikes at the positions of the Syrian army, hitting more than 200 targets.
Meanwhile, the Russian defense ministry said that on February 27 militants of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) had attempted a large-scale offensive in Idlib. The Turkish soldier who came under shelling by Syrian troops were among the attacking militants, the Russian ministry said. It vowed that Russian warplanes had made no sorties in that area.


tass--2020-03-01--Putin lays flowers at monument to perished Russian paratroopers in Pskov

PSKOV , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid tribute to the servicemen of the 6th company @ @ @ @ @ , who lost their lives in a battle with militants in the Argun River gorge @ @ @ @ @ .
Putin arrived in Pskov , northwestern Russia , which is marking the 20th anniversary @ @ @ @ @ Russian leader talked to the relatives of the perished paratroopers .
During the battle on @ @ @ @ @ , some 90 paratroopers were attacked by a 2,000-strong group of militants led by Al-Khattab @ @ @ @ @ and between 400 and 500 gunmen were killed .

PSKOV, March 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin paid tribute to the servicemen of the 6th company of the Pskov airborne division, who lost their lives in a battle with militants in the Argun River gorge in Chechnya 20 years ago.
Putin arrived in Pskov, northwestern Russia, which is marking the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. The Russian leader talked to the relatives of the perished paratroopers.
During the battle on February 29-March 1, 2000, some 90 paratroopers were attacked by a 2,000-strong group of militants led by Al-Khattab. Some 84 servicemen died and between 400 and 500 gunmen were killed.


tass--2020-03-01--Two Syrian Su-24 jets downed over Syria’s Idlib - Turkish defense ministry

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Two Syrian Su-124 fighter jets have been downed over Idlib , Turkey ’ @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
`` Two air defense systems were destroyed , one of them had @ @ @ @ @ Su-24 jets of the [ Syrian President Bashar ] Assad regime , which attacked our @ @ @ @ @ , '' the ministry said , providing no details about who had delivered strikes against @ @ @ @ @ ’ s SANA news agency said earlier in the day that Turkey ’ s forces @ @ @ @ @ the Syrian government army in the Idlib governorate .
According to the agency , the @ @ @ @ @ reached the ground safely .
Some time ago , SANA reported that Syrian forces had @ @ @ @ @ Idlib governorate a Turkish drone belonging to a terrorist group .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. Two Syrian Su-124 fighter jets have been downed over Idlib, Turkey’s national defense ministry said on Sunday.
"Two air defense systems were destroyed, one of them had downed our drone. Two Su-24 jets of the [Syrian President Bashar] Assad regime, which attacked our planes, have been downed," the ministry said, providing no details about who had delivered strikes against targets in Syria.
Syria’s SANA news agency said earlier in the day that Turkey’s forces had downed two planes of the Syrian government army in the Idlib governorate. According to the agency, the pilots ejected with parachutes and reached the ground safely.
Some time ago, SANA reported that Syrian forces had downed near Saraqib in the Idlib governorate a Turkish drone belonging to a terrorist group.


tass--2020-03-01--Turkey says Spring Shield operation launched in Syria’s Idlib

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced on Sunday that Operation Spring Shield was launched in Syria ’ s Idlib on February 27 .
`` Operation Spring Shield is successfully continuing that was launched on February 27 in response to a mean attack on the Turkish military .
At the moment , one drone , eight helicopters , 103 tanks , 72 howitzers , three air defense systems and 2,212 troops of the regime [ of Syrian President Bashar Assad ] have been eliminated , '' Akar said , according to NTV report .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not aimed at confrontation with Russia .
`` Our goal is to prevent crimes committed by the regime of [ legitimate Syrian President ] Bashar Assad , eliminating radicals and preventing [ the wave of ] migration , '' the minister claimed .
Tensions in Syria ’ s Idlib region escalated overnight to February 28 after militants had launched a large-scale offensive , according to the Russian Defense Ministry .
In the early hours of Friday , the Syrian government forces conducted strikes on their positions , which , as Ankara claims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Turkey ’ s Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian troops , later specifying that more than 200 targets had been hit .
Turkey has carried out three military operations in Syria : Euphrates Shield , Olive Branch and Peace Spring .
They resulted in creating a buffer security zone between the border towns of Azaz and Jarabulus , occupying Afrin and taking under control the territory to the east of the Euphrates River .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced on Sunday that Operation Spring Shield was launched in Syria’s Idlib on February 27.
"Operation Spring Shield is successfully continuing that was launched on February 27 in response to a mean attack on the Turkish military. At the moment, one drone, eight helicopters, 103 tanks, 72 howitzers, three air defense systems and 2,212 troops of the regime [of Syrian President Bashar Assad] have been eliminated," Akar said, according to NTV report.
Akar also stressed that this operation was not aimed at confrontation with Russia. "Our goal is to prevent crimes committed by the regime of [legitimate Syrian President] Bashar Assad, eliminating radicals and preventing [the wave of] migration," the minister claimed.
Tensions in Syria’s Idlib region escalated overnight to February 28 after militants had launched a large-scale offensive, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. In the early hours of Friday, the Syrian government forces conducted strikes on their positions, which, as Ankara claims, killed 36 Turkish soldiers. In response, Turkey’s Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian troops, later specifying that more than 200 targets had been hit.
Turkey has carried out three military operations in Syria: Euphrates Shield, Olive Branch and Peace Spring. They resulted in creating a buffer security zone between the border towns of Azaz and Jarabulus, occupying Afrin and taking under control the territory to the east of the Euphrates River.


tass--2020-03-01--Editor-in-chief of Sputnik’s Turkish bureau detained

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Editor-in-chief of the Turkish bureau of Sputnik news agency was detained on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ Segodnya media group , RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel .
@ @ @ @ @ Turkish Sputnik has been detained , '' Simonyan wrote .
Earlier , Simonyan reported that @ @ @ @ @ in the news agency ’ s office in Istanbul .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Editor-in-chief of the Turkish bureau of Sputnik news agency was detained on Sunday, Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan wrote on her Telegram channel.
"The editor-in-chief of our Turkish Sputnik has been detained," Simonyan wrote.
Earlier, Simonyan reported that four staffers had been detained in the news agency’s office in Istanbul.


tass--2020-03-01--Turkish forces shoot down two Syrian jets over Idlib

TASS , March 1 .
The Turkish troops have shot down two Syrian Air Force ’ s planes in the @ @ @ @ @ state news agency reported on Sunday .
According to the report , `` the Syrian @ @ @ @ @ downed two jets of the Syrian government army in the Idlib Governorate . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ with parachutes .
`` They were unhurt , '' the report said .
Earlier , @ @ @ @ @ troops had downed a Turkish drone belonging to terrorist groups near Saraqib , in the @ @ @ @ @ authorities have not officially commented on the report .

TASS, March 1. The Turkish troops have shot down two Syrian Air Force’s planes in the Idlib Governorate, the SANA state news agency reported on Sunday.
According to the report, "the Syrian regime’s forces have downed two jets of the Syrian government army in the Idlib Governorate."
The pilots of both planes ejected with parachutes. "They were unhurt," the report said.
Earlier, SANA reported that the Syrian troops had downed a Turkish drone belonging to terrorist groups near Saraqib, in the Idlib Governorate.
The Turkish authorities have not officially commented on the report.


tass--2020-03-01--Russian foreign ministry urges Turkey to explain Sputnik journalists’ detention

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry has called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of three reporters of Sputnik news agency ’ s Turkish bureau and ensure security of Russian journalists .
`` We call on the Turkish authorities to interfere in the situation and ensure security for Russian media representatives and contribute to clarifying all circumstances of the incident , '' the ministry said in a statement .
The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency ’ s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive protesters broke into the apartments of three Sputnik Turkey staffers , who are Turkish nationals .
`` The journalists were threatened with violence , they were told to stop their professional activity .
According to available information , since last night they have been held by Turkey ’ s security agencies .
The situation is complicated as no contact has been established with them , '' according to the statement .
Late on Saturday , Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group , RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan said that unknown men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffers of Sputnik ’ s Turkish branch in Ankara .
They threatened the journalists , slapping the accusations of treason over their work for a Russian media outlet .
According to Turkish daily Sozcu , the reporters were detained over a publication on the news agency ’ s website titled `` The Stolen Province : Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago . ''
The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate @

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has called on the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation with the detention of three reporters of Sputnik news agency’s Turkish bureau and ensure security of Russian journalists.
"We call on the Turkish authorities to interfere in the situation and ensure security for Russian media representatives and contribute to clarifying all circumstances of the incident," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stressed that the attack on the agency’s staff and their detention was a flagrant violation of their rights.
On February 29, aggressive protesters broke into the apartments of three Sputnik Turkey staffers, who are Turkish nationals. "The journalists were threatened with violence, they were told to stop their professional activity. According to available information, since last night they have been held by Turkey’s security agencies. The situation is complicated as no contact has been established with them," according to the statement.
Late on Saturday, Editor-in-Chief of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, RT and Sputnik Margarita Simonyan said that unknown men had broken into the apartments of three staffers of Sputnik’s Turkish branch in Ankara. They threatened the journalists, slapping the accusations of treason over their work for a Russian media outlet.
According to Turkish daily Sozcu, the reporters were detained over a publication on the news agency’s website titled "The Stolen Province: Why Turkey Was Given A Corner of Syria By France 80 years ago." The province of Hatay became part of Turkey in 1939 under an agreement with France when Syria was ruled by the French mandate.


tass--2020-03-01--Russian defense ministry denies report on Su-24 jet’s downing in Idlib

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry has rejected a report that a Russian Su-24 @ @ @ @ @ man-portable air-defense system in the sky over Idlib .
`` The report citing militants ’ @ @ @ @ @ Aerospace Defense Forces ’ Su-24 was shot down from a man-portable air-defense system over the @ @ @ @ @ , '' the ministry said .
According to the defense ministry , Russia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ as normal .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry has rejected a report that a Russian Su-24 jet was downed by a man-portable air-defense system in the sky over Idlib.
"The report citing militants’ Internet resources that the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces’ Su-24 was shot down from a man-portable air-defense system over the Idlib de-escalation zone is fake," the ministry said.
According to the defense ministry, Russia’s aircraft are fulfilling their mission as normal.


tass--2020-03-01--Putin vows Russia will meet social commitments even if global economic situation worsens

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will be able to meet all social commitments even if the global @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport ’ s government terminal on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ , including those of the National Wealth Fund , are enough to ensure stability and @ @ @ @ @ commitments even in case of a possible deterioration of the situation in global economy , @ @ @ @ @ recalled that under Russia ’ s macroeconomic policy , this year the oil price of @ @ @ @ @ considered as a basic level .
Speaking on the reserves , the Russian leader stressed @ @ @ @ @ international reserves reached $ 563 bln while the National Wealth Fund was estimated at $ @ @ @ @ @ rubles ) .
`` Nevertheless , we still have to take active steps , including @ @ @ @ @ '' the president stated .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia will be able to meet all social commitments even if the global economic situation deteriorates, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport’s government terminal on Sunday.
"Our accumulated reserves, including those of the National Wealth Fund, are enough to ensure stability and meet all budget and social commitments even in case of a possible deterioration of the situation in global economy," Putin said.
Putin recalled that under Russia’s macroeconomic policy, this year the oil price of $42.4 per barrel was considered as a basic level. Speaking on the reserves, the Russian leader stressed that the country’s international reserves reached $563 bln while the National Wealth Fund was estimated at $124 bln (7.87 trln rubles).
"Nevertheless, we still have to take active steps, including jointly with foreign partners," the president stated.


tass--2020-03-01--Syrian army’s jet shot down in Idlib, report says

ANKARA , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
The Syrian government troops ’ plane was shot down in the Idlib Governorate @ @ @ @ @ news agency reported .
According to the Turkish TV channel A Haber , the L-39 @ @ @ @ @ of the so-called Syrian armed opposition near Saraqib , in the southeast of the Idlib @ @ @ @ @ and his fate remains unknown , the report claimed .
In its turn , the @ @ @ @ @ the Syrian troops had downed a Turkish drone belonging to the Syrian armed opposition fighting @ @ @ @ @ .
The incident occurred near Saraqib .
The Syrian army has declared closing the airspace @ @ @ @ @ northwest , including over Idlib , Sky News Arabia TV channel reported on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ Syrian military said that any plane violating the airspace in this zone would be considered @ @ @ @ @ be shot down in order to prevent aggressive actions .

ANKARA, March 1. /TASS/. The Syrian government troops’ plane was shot down in the Idlib Governorate on Sunday, the Anadolu news agency reported.
According to the Turkish TV channel A Haber, the L-39 plane was downed by militants of the so-called Syrian armed opposition near Saraqib, in the southeast of the Idlib Governorate. The pilot ejected and his fate remains unknown, the report claimed.
In its turn, the SANA news agency reported that the Syrian troops had downed a Turkish drone belonging to the Syrian armed opposition fighting on Turkey’s side. The incident occurred near Saraqib.
The Syrian army has declared closing the airspace over the country’s northwest, including over Idlib, Sky News Arabia TV channel reported on Sunday. In its statement, the Syrian military said that any plane violating the airspace in this zone would be considered as an enemy and would be shot down in order to prevent aggressive actions.


tass--2020-03-01--This past week is the worst for oil market since 2008, Putin says

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
This past week has become the worst for the global oil market since 2008 , Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday .
`` This past week has become the worst for global markets , since the crisis of 2008 , '' Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport ’ s government terminal .
The Russian president noted that China ’ s business activity index published on Friday declined blow the minimum level of the 2008 global crisis .
`` In their turn , global stock indices dropped more than 10 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brent crude oil prices fell to $ 50 per barrel by the end of this week , compared with $ 70 in the beginning of the year , he noted .
OPEC plus alliance of oil producers has proved to be an effective mechanism for ensuring stability on energy markets , Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport ’ s government terminal on Sunday .
`` This mechanism , which we created with other leading oil producing countries , has proved to be an effective tool for ensuring long-term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin said .
The Russian leader recalled that next week Vienna would host another OPEC plus meeting .
He stressed that this mechanism had helped gain extra budget revenues and enable oil producers to safely invest in promising projects .
The OPEC+ alliance is made up of 24 oil exporting countries including Russia that have been concertedly coordinating oil production since 2017 .
In July 2019 , they extended the agreement to reduce oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day to the level of October 2018 until the end of March .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
In December 2019 , the OPEC+ ministers decided to reduce production from 1.2 million barrels per day to 1.7 million barrels per day .
The oil market is now facing immense pressure after the novel coronavirus outbreak hit China .
Amid lower business and tourist activity , China ’ s oil demand plummeted by 20 % On February 27 , OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo told Bloomberg that OPEC plus countries had confirmed their plans to achieve a deal at the ministerial meeting in Vienna on March 5-6 in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has deteriorated amid the coronavirus spread .
On December 31 , 2019 , the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan , an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million .
As of today , more than 50 countries and territories , including Russia , have reported confirmed coronavirus cases .
The WHO declared the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern , characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients infected with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in China and other countries .
The death toll from the virus is nearing 3,000 , yet over 42,000 patients have recovered to date .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. This past week has become the worst for the global oil market since 2008, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.
"This past week has become the worst for global markets, since the crisis of 2008," Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport’s government terminal.
The Russian president noted that China’s business activity index published on Friday declined blow the minimum level of the 2008 global crisis. "In their turn, global stock indices dropped more than 10%," Putin said.
Against this background, Brent crude oil prices fell to $50 per barrel by the end of this week, compared with $70 in the beginning of the year, he noted.
OPEC plus
OPEC plus alliance of oil producers has proved to be an effective mechanism for ensuring stability on energy markets, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport’s government terminal on Sunday.
"This mechanism, which we created with other leading oil producing countries, has proved to be an effective tool for ensuring long-term stability on global energy markets," Putin said.
The Russian leader recalled that next week Vienna would host another OPEC plus meeting. He stressed that this mechanism had helped gain extra budget revenues and enable oil producers to safely invest in promising projects.
The OPEC+ alliance is made up of 24 oil exporting countries including Russia that have been concertedly coordinating oil production since 2017. In July 2019, they extended the agreement to reduce oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day to the level of October 2018 until the end of March. OPEC countries account for 812,000 barrels per day. In December 2019, the OPEC+ ministers decided to reduce production from 1.2 million barrels per day to 1.7 million barrels per day.
The oil market is now facing immense pressure after the novel coronavirus outbreak hit China. Amid lower business and tourist activity, China’s oil demand plummeted by 20%
On February 27, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo told Bloomberg that OPEC plus countries had confirmed their plans to achieve a deal at the ministerial meeting in Vienna on March 5-6 in order to stabilize the situation on the oil markets that has deteriorated amid the coronavirus spread.
On December 31, 2019, the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million. As of today, more than 50 countries and territories, including Russia, have reported confirmed coronavirus cases.
The WHO declared the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations. According to the latest reports, over 86,000 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in China and other countries. The death toll from the virus is nearing 3,000, yet over 42,000 patients have recovered to date.


tass--2020-03-01--Tehran says US has no legal right to sign peace deal on Afghanistan

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Tehran believes that the United States has no right to sign any peace @ @ @ @ @ Taliban radical movement ( outlawed in Russia ) and peace can be reached in the @ @ @ @ @ , the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its Telegram channel on @ @ @ @ @ that Washington `` has no legal right to sign a peace agreement [ with the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s future . ''
The document says that Tehran believes that `` a solid @ @ @ @ @ be reached only on the basis of intra-Afghan dialogue involving all political groups , including @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Tehran believes that the United States has no right to sign any peace deals on Afghanistan with the Taliban radical movement (outlawed in Russia) and peace can be reached in the country only through intra-Afghan talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its Telegram channel on Sunday.
Iran is convinced that Washington "has no legal right to sign a peace agreement [with the Taliban] or define Afghanistan’s future." The document says that Tehran believes that "a solid peace agreement in Afghanistan may be reached only on the basis of intra-Afghan dialogue involving all political groups, including the Taliban.".


tass--2020-03-01--Russia making every effort to fight coronavirus, situation under control - Putin

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia is doing its utmost to combat coronavirus and the situation is under control in general , Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport ’ s government terminal on Sunday .
`` Russia is making every effort to fight this dangerous disease , all necessary measures have been taken .
I hope they will be effective , '' the Russian president said .
`` The situation is under control in general , '' he noted .
According to the Russian leader , the negative consequences of coronavirus affect the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As far as the coronavirus outbreak ’ s economic impact is concerned , we need to look especially at how to respond to what is happening , '' Putin said .
`` Here the negative aftermath is already seen , it effects the entire system of global economic relations and almost all states , given that today economies are highly interdependent and interconnected . ''
Putin noted that at this meeting with the heads of major oil and gas companies he planned to hear recommendations how to respond to the developments on global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The meeting is attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov , Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov , who oversees fuel and energy issues in the government , Chair of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina , Finance Minister Anton Siluanov , Gazprom Neft CEO Alexander Dyukov , Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev , Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin , Energy Minister Alexander Novak , Surgutneftegaz CEO Vladimir Bogdanov and Tatneft CEO Nail Maganov .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia is doing its utmost to combat coronavirus and the situation is under control in general, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting at Vnukovo airport’s government terminal on Sunday.
"Russia is making every effort to fight this dangerous disease, all necessary measures have been taken. I hope they will be effective," the Russian president said. "The situation is under control in general," he noted.
According to the Russian leader, the negative consequences of coronavirus affect the entire system of global economic ties. "As far as the coronavirus outbreak’s economic impact is concerned, we need to look especially at how to respond to what is happening," Putin said.
"Here the negative aftermath is already seen, it effects the entire system of global economic relations and almost all states, given that today economies are highly interdependent and interconnected."
Putin noted that at this meeting with the heads of major oil and gas companies he planned to hear recommendations how to respond to the developments on global raw materials markets amid the coronavirus.
The meeting is attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, who oversees fuel and energy issues in the government, Chair of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Gazprom Neft CEO Alexander Dyukov, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Surgutneftegaz CEO Vladimir Bogdanov and Tatneft CEO Nail Maganov.


tass--2020-03-01--Voter turnout at Tajikistan’s parliamentary polls exceeds 23%

DUSHANBE , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
The voter turnout at parliamentary elections in Tajikistan reached 23.4 % by 9.00 a.m. local time ( 7.00 a.m. Moscow Time ) , a member of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda , Nosirdzhon Salimzoda , said .
`` According to the Central Election Commission , as of 9 a.m. some 1,150,037 voters cast their ballots within the first three hours at all 3,412 polling stations , accounting for 23.4 % of the total number of eligible voters , '' Salimzoda said .
The vote continues across the country and all conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparent elections , the election official said .
On Sunday , Tajikistan holds elections to the lower house of parliament .
The ballot stations opened across the country at 6.00 a.m. local time .
A total of 63 MPs will be elected - 41 in single-mandate constituencies and 22 in general constituencies .
The parties need to pass a five percent threshold to be elected to the parliament , while candidates in single-mandate constituencies must secure at least 50 % of votes .
Under the law , the elections are recognized as valid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ballots .

DUSHANBE, March 1. /TASS/. The voter turnout at parliamentary elections in Tajikistan reached 23.4% by 9.00 a.m. local time (7.00 a.m. Moscow Time), a member of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda, Nosirdzhon Salimzoda, said.
"According to the Central Election Commission, as of 9 a.m. some 1,150,037 voters cast their ballots within the first three hours at all 3,412 polling stations, accounting for 23.4% of the total number of eligible voters," Salimzoda said.
The vote continues across the country and all conditions have been created to ensure free and transparent elections, the election official said.
On Sunday, Tajikistan holds elections to the lower house of parliament. The ballot stations opened across the country at 6.00 a.m. local time. A total of 63 MPs will be elected - 41 in single-mandate constituencies and 22 in general constituencies. The parties need to pass a five percent threshold to be elected to the parliament, while candidates in single-mandate constituencies must secure at least 50% of votes. Under the law, the elections are recognized as valid if more than half of voters cast their ballots.


tass--2020-03-01--Death toll from coronavirus in Japan reaches 12

TOKYO , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
A man over the age of 70 has died from a coronavirus in the Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido , the authorities of Japan ’ s northernmost region announced on Sunday .
According to authorities , this is the third victim of the new coronavirus in Hokkaido .
To date , the total number of deaths from the infection in Japan has reached 12 people .
The highest infection rates were registered on the northern island of Hokkaido .
There are 66 people with coronavirus in hospitals .
On Friday , the authorities of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the island .
According to the latest data from the Japanese Health Ministry , the total number of infected in Japan is 947 people .
Of this number , 705 people got infected on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
The ship was anchored near Yokohama and has been quarantined since February 5 .
On December 31 , 2019 , the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan , an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 countries and territories , including Russia , have reported confirmed coronavirus cases .

TOKYO, March 1. /TASS/. A man over the age of 70 has died from a coronavirus in the Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido, the authorities of Japan’s northernmost region announced on Sunday. According to authorities, this is the third victim of the new coronavirus in Hokkaido. To date, the total number of deaths from the infection in Japan has reached 12 people. The highest infection rates were registered on the northern island of Hokkaido. There are 66 people with coronavirus in hospitals. On Friday, the authorities of the prefecture declared a local emergency mode on the island.
According to the latest data from the Japanese Health Ministry, the total number of infected in Japan is 947 people. Of this number, 705 people got infected on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The ship was anchored near Yokohama and has been quarantined since February 5.
On December 31, 2019, the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million. As of today, more than 50 countries and territories, including Russia, have reported confirmed coronavirus cases.


tass--2020-03-01--First case of coronavirus infection registered in Armenia

TASS , March 1 .
The first case of infection with a new coronavirus has been registered in Armenia , the country ’ s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Sunday .
`` Unfortunately , about two hours ago , we learned about the first infected person .
The patient is 29 years old , he arrived with his wife from Iran on February 28 , '' Pashinyan wrote on Facebook .
The Armenian Prime Minister noted that the infected person came to the hospital and passed a virus test , which showed a positive result .
According to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessed as satisfactory .
`` It is important that the spouse of the person infected was tested negative for the virus , '' the Prime Minister noted .
He assured that all people who had contact with the patient would be isolated .
On December 31 , 2019 , the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan , an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million .
As of today , more than 50 countries and territories , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern , characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations .
According to the latest reports , over 79,800 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in China and other countries .
The virus ’ death toll has hit 2,870 , yet about 42,000 patients have recovered from the disease .

TASS, March 1. The first case of infection with a new coronavirus has been registered in Armenia, the country’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Sunday.
"Unfortunately, about two hours ago, we learned about the first infected person. The patient is 29 years old, he arrived with his wife from Iran on February 28," Pashinyan wrote on Facebook.
The Armenian Prime Minister noted that the infected person came to the hospital and passed a virus test, which showed a positive result. According to him, the condition of the patient is assessed as satisfactory.
"It is important that the spouse of the person infected was tested negative for the virus," the Prime Minister noted. He assured that all people who had contact with the patient would be isolated.
On December 31, 2019, the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million. As of today, more than 50 countries and territories, including Russia, have reported confirmed coronavirus cases.
The World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations. According to the latest reports, over 79,800 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in China and other countries. The virus’ death toll has hit 2,870, yet about 42,000 patients have recovered from the disease.


tass--2020-03-01--Russia limits air service with South Korea amid coronavirus outbreak

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
Russia has limited air service to South Korea due to the spread of a new type of coronavirus in that country .
From March 1 , only Aeroflot and Korean Air will operate flights between the two countries .
This decision was made by the operational headquarters to combat the spread of coronavirus .
Earlier flights to South Korea from Russia were carried out also by S7 , Aurora and Yakutia airlines .
These three airlines can operate charter flights to return passengers home .
The airlines can carry only citizens of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea and citizens of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union on flights from South Korea to Russia .
On Saturday , the Yonhap news agency reported about 594 new cases of coronavirus infection in South Korea .
Thus , to date , 2,931 cases of infection have been registered in the republic .
According to the Association of Russian Tour Operators , as of February 26 , there were about 1,200 Russian organized tourists in South Korea .
Earlier , a representative with S7 told TASS that it is planned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korea at least until mid-March : more than 10,000 passengers need to come back home .
South Korea has become the third state Russia decided to limit flight connection with .
Now a similar restriction applies to China and Iran .
All flights of Aeroflot and national carriers of other countries are served only at terminal F at the Sheremetyevo airport .
The airport transferred other international flights to other terminals .
Moreover , from March 1 , all flights arriving arrival from Italy will be serviced at terminal F. On December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan , an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million .
As of today , more than 50 countries and territories , including Russia , have reported confirmed coronavirus cases .
The World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern , characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations .
According to the latest reports , over 79,200 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The virus ’ death toll has hit 2,835 , yet more than 39,000 patients have recovered from the disease .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia has limited air service to South Korea due to the spread of a new type of coronavirus in that country. From March 1, only Aeroflot and Korean Air will operate flights between the two countries. This decision was made by the operational headquarters to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Earlier flights to South Korea from Russia were carried out also by S7, Aurora and Yakutia airlines. These three airlines can operate charter flights to return passengers home. The airlines can carry only citizens of the Republic of Korea from Russia to South Korea and citizens of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union on flights from South Korea to Russia.
On Saturday, the Yonhap news agency reported about 594 new cases of coronavirus infection in South Korea. Thus, to date, 2,931 cases of infection have been registered in the republic.
According to the Association of Russian Tour Operators, as of February 26, there were about 1,200 Russian organized tourists in South Korea. Earlier, a representative with S7 told TASS that it is planned to carry out charter flights between Russia and South Korea at least until mid-March: more than 10,000 passengers need to come back home.
South Korea has become the third state Russia decided to limit flight connection with. Now a similar restriction applies to China and Iran. All flights of Aeroflot and national carriers of other countries are served only at terminal F at the Sheremetyevo airport. The airport transferred other international flights to other terminals.
Moreover, from March 1, all flights arriving arrival from Italy will be serviced at terminal F.
On December 31, 2019, the Chinese authorities reported to the World Health Organization about an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, an economic and industrial megalopolis with a population of 12 million. As of today, more than 50 countries and territories, including Russia, have reported confirmed coronavirus cases.
The World Health Organization declared the new coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple locations. According to the latest reports, over 79,200 cases of patients infected with the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in China and other countries. The virus’ death toll has hit 2,835, yet more than 39,000 patients have recovered from the disease.


tass--2020-03-01--Throughout 140 years of record keeping, Moscow has never seen a warmer winter - expert

MOSCOW , March 1 .
/TASS/ .
This winter has been the warmest in Moscow over all the years of @ @ @ @ @ winter ’ s record of average temperatures for three months by 2.5 degrees Celsius , @ @ @ @ @ of Russia 's weather forecasting agency , told TASS .
Russia has been regularly recording @ @ @ @ @ 140 years , he said .
`` This winter was super warm in Moscow .
@ @ @ @ @ set 59 years ago was not broken , when the average temperature was minus 2.8 @ @ @ @ @ , 1960 to February 29 , 1961 .
Now [ monthly average ] temperatures are @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
Vilfand called this record unbelievable , since a huge gap @ @ @ @ @ extremely rare phenomenon .
Typically , temperature records are set in the hundredths of a @ @ @ @ @ `` We can state with confidence that there will not be a warmer winter for @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. This winter has been the warmest in Moscow over all the years of record keeping, beating last winter’s record of average temperatures for three months by 2.5 degrees Celsius, Roman Vilfand, lead researcher of Russia's weather forecasting agency, told TASS.
Russia has been regularly recording weather data over the past 140 years, he said.
"This winter was super warm in Moscow. Until now, the record set 59 years ago was not broken, when the average temperature was minus 2.8 degrees Celsius from December 1, 1960 to February 29, 1961. Now [monthly average] temperatures are up about 2.5 degrees Celsius," he said.
Vilfand called this record unbelievable, since a huge gap between the records is an extremely rare phenomenon. Typically, temperature records are set in the hundredths of a degree, he said.
"We can state with confidence that there will not be a warmer winter for a long period of time," he said.


tass--2020-02-29--Putin informs Macron of efforts against terrorists in Syria

MOSCOW , February 29 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin informed his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call about the efforts taken in the war on terror in northwestern Syria , and the two presidents discussed the recent escalation in Syria ’ s Idlib , the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday .
`` At France ’ s request , there was a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron .
[ They ] continued exchanging views about Syria , primarily with regard to a sharp escalation in the Idlib zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the measures taken to battle terrorists in northwestern Syria , '' the statement says .
In addition , the two presidents touched upon the humanitarian situation in Idlib .
`` Russia ’ s president pointed out that all the pressing issues of the Syria settlement are to be discussed in detail at the Russian-Turkish summit meeting in Moscow , scheduled for coming days , '' the Kremlin said in a statement .
Earlier , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian and Turkish presidents might hold talks in Moscow on either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed the timeframe adding that preparations for the summit meeting were underway , but said nothing about the venue .
The tensions in Syria ’ s Idlib region escalated on Thursday after militants launched a large-scale offensive , according to the Russian Defense Ministry .
In the early hours of Friday , the Syrian government forces conducted strikes on their positions , which , as Ankara claims , killed 33 Turkish soldiers .
In response , Turkey ’ s Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian troops , later specifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit .
The Russian Defense Ministry told reporters that the Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group ( one of the names of Jabhat al-Nusra , banned in Russia ) unleashed a large-scale offensive on Idlib on Thursday .
The killed Turkish soldiers were among the advancing terrorists , the Russian Defense Ministry stated adding that the Aerospace Forces were not used in that area .

MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin informed his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call about the efforts taken in the war on terror in northwestern Syria, and the two presidents discussed the recent escalation in Syria’s Idlib, the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday.
"At France’s request, there was a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron. [They] continued exchanging views about Syria, primarily with regard to a sharp escalation in the Idlib zone. Vladimir Putin informed the French president about the measures taken to battle terrorists in northwestern Syria," the statement says.
In addition, the two presidents touched upon the humanitarian situation in Idlib.
"Russia’s president pointed out that all the pressing issues of the Syria settlement are to be discussed in detail at the Russian-Turkish summit meeting in Moscow, scheduled for coming days," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian and Turkish presidents might hold talks in Moscow on either March 5 or 6. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu confirmed the timeframe adding that preparations for the summit meeting were underway, but said nothing about the venue.
Escalation in Idlib
The tensions in Syria’s Idlib region escalated on Thursday after militants launched a large-scale offensive, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. In the early hours of Friday, the Syrian government forces conducted strikes on their positions, which, as Ankara claims, killed 33 Turkish soldiers. In response, Turkey’s Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian troops, later specifying that more than 200 targets had been hit.
The Russian Defense Ministry told reporters that the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group (one of the names of Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia) unleashed a large-scale offensive on Idlib on Thursday. The killed Turkish soldiers were among the advancing terrorists, the Russian Defense Ministry stated adding that the Aerospace Forces were not used in that area.


tass--2020-02-29--In phone call with Rouhani Erdogan reaffirms support to political solution to Syria crisis

TEHRAN , February 29 .
/TASS/ .
A political solution remains the only possible way to end the Syria crisis , Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday in a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani .
`` Erdogan named political dialogue as the only solution to Syrian problems , '' the Iranian presidential press office said .
According to the press office , the Turkish president pointed out that `` the talks [ within the Astana format ] have yielded meaningful results and they should be continued for the sake of a stable peace [ in Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the current situation in Idlib can not remain as it is . ''
`` We are alarmed by the implementation of the Astana agreements , '' he added .
For his part , the Iranian president mentioned `` the country ’ s readiness to host the next round of trilateral talks '' within the framework of Astana process .
`` We must seek a solution through dialogue , so we must not allow the Astana process to be derailed , '' Rouhani said .
Moscow , Tehran and Ankara are the three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria .
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said earlier that the presidents of Russia , Iran and Turkey - Vladimir Putin , Hassan Rouhani and Recep Tayyip Erdogan - could hold a trilateral summit in Tehran in early March to seek solutions to the Syria crisis .
The tensions in Syria ’ s Idlib region escalated on Thursday after militants launched a large-scale offensive , according to the Russian Defense Ministry .
In the early hours of Friday , the Syrian government forces conducted strikes on their positions , which , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response , Turkey ’ s Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian troops , later specifying that more than 200 targets had been hit .
The Russian Defense Ministry told reporters that the Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group ( one of the names of Jabhat al-Nusra , banned in Russia ) unleashed a large-scale offensive on Idlib on Thursday .
The killed Turkish soldiers were among the advancing terrorists , the Russian Defense Ministry stated adding that the Aerospace Forces were not used in that area .
The recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk between the presidents of Russia and Turkey , Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan .
They emphasized the urgency to de-escalate the tensions and agreed to work out the possibility of a summit meeting in the near future .

TEHRAN, February 29. /TASS/. A political solution remains the only possible way to end the Syria crisis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday in a phone call with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
"Erdogan named political dialogue as the only solution to Syrian problems," the Iranian presidential press office said.
According to the press office, the Turkish president pointed out that "the talks [within the Astana format] have yielded meaningful results and they should be continued for the sake of a stable peace [in Syria]."
According to Erdogan, "the current situation in Idlib cannot remain as it is."
"We are alarmed by the implementation of the Astana agreements," he added.
For his part, the Iranian president mentioned "the country’s readiness to host the next round of trilateral talks" within the framework of Astana process.
"We must seek a solution through dialogue, so we must not allow the Astana process to be derailed," Rouhani said.
Moscow, Tehran and Ankara are the three guarantor states at the Astana talks on Syria. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said earlier that the presidents of Russia, Iran and Turkey - Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani and Recep Tayyip Erdogan - could hold a trilateral summit in Tehran in early March to seek solutions to the Syria crisis.
Idlib escalation
The tensions in Syria’s Idlib region escalated on Thursday after militants launched a large-scale offensive, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. In the early hours of Friday, the Syrian government forces conducted strikes on their positions, which, as Ankara claims, killed 33 Turkish soldiers. In response, Turkey’s Air Force conducted strikes on the Syrian troops, later specifying that more than 200 targets had been hit.
The Russian Defense Ministry told reporters that the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group (one of the names of Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia) unleashed a large-scale offensive on Idlib on Thursday. The killed Turkish soldiers were among the advancing terrorists, the Russian Defense Ministry stated adding that the Aerospace Forces were not used in that area.
The recent flare-up was in focus of a phone talk between the presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They emphasized the urgency to de-escalate the tensions and agreed to work out the possibility of a summit meeting in the near future.


tass--2020-02-29--Putin, Rouhani call for full implementation of Astana agreements on Syria

MOSCOW , February 29 .
/TASS/ .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani discussed in a phone @ @ @ @ @ the wake of an escalation in the Idlib de-escalation zone , the Kremlin said in @ @ @ @ @ `` [ The two presidents ] viewed in detail developments in Syria in the context @ @ @ @ @ Idlib de-escalation zone .
They shared the same opinion that the Astana agreements , primarily @ @ @ @ @ terror under [ the condition of ] respect for Syria ’ s sovereignty and territorial @ @ @ @ @ implemented in full , '' the statement says .
The phone call was requested by @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin said .
The latest , or 14th , round of Astana peace talks by @ @ @ @ @ took place in Nur-Sultan on December 10-11 , 2019 .
The meeting ’ s participants @ @ @ @ @ Syrian constitution committee ’ s work in Geneva and denounced illegitimate attempts to establish self-governance @ @ @ @ @ pretext of countering terrorism .

MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani discussed in a phone call the Syria crisis in the wake of an escalation in the Idlib de-escalation zone, the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday.
"[The two presidents] viewed in detail developments in Syria in the context of increasing tensions in the Idlib de-escalation zone. They shared the same opinion that the Astana agreements, primarily related to the war on terror under [the condition of] respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, need to be implemented in full," the statement says.
The phone call was requested by the Iranian side, the Kremlin said.
The latest, or 14th, round of Astana peace talks by Russia, Turkey and Iran took place in Nur-Sultan on December 10-11, 2019. The meeting’s participants hailed the start of the Syrian constitution committee’s work in Geneva and denounced illegitimate attempts to establish self-governance in northeast Syria under the pretext of countering terrorism.


tass--2020-02-29--Putin, Rouhani focus on significance of Iran nuclear deal - Kremlin

MOSCOW , February 29 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian and Iranian Presidents , Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani , discussed in a phone call the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) , known as the Iran nuclear deal , the Kremlin said on Saturday .
`` [ The presidents ] focused on the situation around implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action .
[ They ] emphasized it was crucial to preserve that agreement , which is a meaningful factor in global security , '' the statement says .
The JCPOA , also known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed between Iran , the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council ( Russia , the United Kingdom , China , the United States and France ) and Germany in 2015 .
Under the deal , Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council , the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program .
The future of the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States ’ unilateral pullout on May 8 , 2018 and Washington ’ s unilateral oil export sanctions against Teheran .
Iran argued that all other participants , Europeans in the first place , were ignoring some of their own obligations in the economic sphere , thus making the deal in its current shape senseless .
Tehran began to gradually scale down its commitments under the deal .
On January 5 , 2020 , Iran announced the final phase of scaling back the commitments related to limits on the number of centrifuges used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany , the United Kingdom and France said they had `` been left with no choice , given Iran ’ s actions , '' but to trigger a dispute mechanism in the Iran nuclear deal .

MOSCOW, February 29. /TASS/. The Russian and Iranian Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani, discussed in a phone call the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
"[The presidents] focused on the situation around implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. [They] emphasized it was crucial to preserve that agreement, which is a meaningful factor in global security," the statement says.
The JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (Russia, the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France) and Germany in 2015. Under the deal, Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program.
The future of the deal was called in question after the United States’ unilateral pullout on May 8, 2018 and Washington’s unilateral oil export sanctions against Teheran. Iran argued that all other participants, Europeans in the first place, were ignoring some of their own obligations in the economic sphere, thus making the deal in its current shape senseless. Tehran began to gradually scale down its commitments under the deal. On January 5, 2020, Iran announced the final phase of scaling back the commitments related to limits on the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium. On January 14, Germany, the United Kingdom and France said they had "been left with no choice, given Iran’s actions," but to trigger a dispute mechanism in the Iran nuclear deal.