Putin and Assad invite West to anti-IS alliance

Russian and Syrian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad, urged Western countries to join them in a coalition to fight the Islamic State, during a security summit taking place in Tajikistan on 15 September 2015.

Russia confirmed its military involvement in the Syrian war and defended that the exodus from the country would have been even worse without its active contribution helping the regime's armed forces.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European countries edge towards war on terror http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-countries-edge-towards-war-on-terror/

EurActiv, 14.09.15: Merkel urges West to work with Russia on Syria crisis http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/merkel-urges-west-work-russia-syria-crisis-317592

ESO: Background information: Hollande plans attacks against IS in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-plans-attacks-against-is-in-syria/

ESO: Background information: US: Russian action in Syria could increase refugee flows http://www.europeansources.info/record/us-russian-action-in-syria-could-increase-refugee-flows/

The New York Times, 15.09.15: Obama Weighing Talks With Putin on Syrian Crisis http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/world/middleeast/white-house-split-on-opening-talks-with-putin.html

The Wall Street Journal, 15.09.15: Russia to Continue Military Support to Assad Government, Says Vladimir Putin http://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-to-continue-military-support-to-syria-says-vladimir-putin-1442313043

BBC News, 15.09.15: Syria conflict: Russia 'to continue Assad military aid' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34256389

The Moscow Times, 16.09.15: U.S. Urges Russian 'Engagement' in Syria, Not Military Buildup http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/us-urges-russian-engagement-in-syria-not-military-buildup/530928.html

Sputnik International, 15.09.15: Putin: Russian Support of Syrian Gov't Averts Deterioration of Situation http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150915/1027008169.html

Deutsche Welle, 15.09.15: Putin vows ongoing backing for Assad http://dw.com/p/1GWg0

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 17.09.15: Putin calls for cooperation with Assad http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER169955-Putin-calls-for-cooperation-with-Assad

Politico, 27.09.15: [Opinion]: On Syria, Putin goes for his holy grail http://www.politico.eu/article/on-syria-putin-goes-for-his-holy-grail/

BBC News, 28.09.15: Syria conflict: Russia wants 'co-ordination' against IS http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34375875

Deutsche Welle, 27.09.15: Islamist threat forces Putin's hand http://dw.com/p/1GdRg

Sputnik International, 28.09.15: Refusal to Engage Syria, Iran Limits Success of US-Led Anti-ISIL Efforts http://sputniknews.com/politics/20150928/1027627052.html

EurActiv, 28.09.15: Russia seizes initiative to end Syria crisis http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/russia-seizes-initiative-end-syria-crisis-318003

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 29.09.15: Obama and Putin at odds over Syria strategy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER170588-Obama-and-Putin-at-odds-over-Syria-strategy

The Local.fr, 29.09.15: France could back Putin's Syria coalition http://www.thelocal.fr/20150929/france-could-back-putins-syria-coalition

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