Closing airspace to Russians by Turkey is unfriendly step, says Russian official

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press)Andrei Kortunov, head of the Russian International Affairs Council,  said Tuesday that Turkey’s decision to close its airspace to Russian aircraft to Syria is an unfriendly step.

Last Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, “Turkey has closed its airspace to Russian military and civilian flights to Syria after notifying Moscow.”

“Closing the airspace by Turkey is an unfriendly step. Turkey and Russia have many  basic disputes over the Syrian issue, and the talk is about the future of Idlib and the situation in the Kurdish regions. This step can contribute to exacerbating these disputes that can’t be dealt with later,” the Russian newspaper Zagliad reported Andrei Kortunov.

“These decisions were taken at the backdrop of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, and they may impede communication between Moscow and Damascus,” he added.

“However, I do not think that this will lead to very serious consequences, as there are other air corridors. It is possible to provide the Russian group in Syria  with everything necessary through Iran,” he said.

Reporting by Salman al-Harbi