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Russia not trading oil price issue for its position on Syria — Foreign Ministry

The New York Times reported Saudi Arabia had been trying to pressure Russia to abandon support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, using its dominance of the global oil markets

Russia's Foreign Ministry ITAR-TASS/Gennadiy Khamelyanin

Russia's Foreign Ministry

© ITAR-TASS/Gennadiy Khamelyanin

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MOSCOW, February 5. /TASS/. Russia is not trading the oil price issue for its position on Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday commenting an article posted on the website of The New York Times.

"We’re not trading and have never traded on this score," the diplomat said.

"Oil is one thing while all the rest is another thing," he said.

The publication in The New York Times claims Saudi Arabia has been trying to pressure Moscow to abandon support for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, "using its dominance of the global oil markets."

The newspaper says "it is unclear how explicitly Saudi officials have linked oil to the issue of Syria during the talks." But, as follows from the publication, Saudi officials say that they think they have some leverage over Russia because of "their ability to reduce the supply of oil and possibly drive up prices.".

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Syria Oil price

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