Turkey FM vows to quit if ISIL trade proved

"I am ready to resign if you have any evidence that Turkey helps Daesh, but if you cannot prove your claims, I invite you to Antalya [Cavusoglu's hometown] as a guest for the rest of your life,” Cavusoglu directly told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during an International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting held in Vienna on Tuesday.

Earlier, Lavrov announced that Russia is in possession of evidence showing that the terrorists in Syria are being supplied through Turkey, and that an official document consolidating facts of this “unseemly and unacceptable activity” has been sent to the UN Security Council.

Cavusoglu also said, "You are a serious diplomat, and one of the most experienced diplomats among us. You should not rely upon such frivolous claims."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also slammed Russia’s claims that his country supports Daesh.

"The portrayal of Turkey as a country that helps Daesh is -- excuse me if this will sound harsh -- despicable," he said on Tuesday.

Turkey has on multiple occasions been implicated in supporting Takfiri groups operating in Syria with reports saying that Ankara actively trains and arms the Takfiri militants there and facilitates their safe passage into the Arab country. Turkey has also been accused of buying smuggled oil from Daesh.

KD