ANKARA, July 29. /TASS/. Russia is not an alternative to NATO and European Union (EU) for Turkey, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Hurriyet newspaper in an interview published on Friday.

"Relations with Russia are not Turkey’s alternative to NATO and EU," Cavusoglu said.

Talking about fighting against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization (banned in Russia), the foreign minister said that after dismissals in the army, "it will not weaken." "On the contrary, the fight against IS will be even more effective," he added.