Attack on Su-24 in Syria becomes act of 'almost betrayal' by Turkey - Shoigu
MOSCOW. Dec 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The Turkish attack on a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber in Syria was unexpected and insidious, Russian Defense Minister Gen. of the Army Sergei Shoigu said.
"For us this has really been such an act, almost a betrayal, I would call it. Because we absolutely did not expect such actions by people, who declare to the whole world participation in the anti-terrorist operation against ISIL, other terrorist organizations in Syrian territory," Shoigu said at a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan in Moscow on Wednesday.
He thanked the republican head of the defense agency for the words of support and condolences which have earlier been offered over the perishing of Russian servicemen in Syria. "You were practically the first to respond to this major tragedy," Shoigu said.
He said that the sides were to discuss at the meeting "quite a large number of issues related to the plans for 2016, the implementation of the cooperation program in 2015."
"And, certainly, everything that actually concerns alarming moments in the situation in the world is to be discussed. You are aware that we are conducting a major anti-terrorist operation in Syria," the Russian defense minister said.
All the plans of cooperation between Russia and Armenia in 2015 have been fulfilled, he said. "And in the field of drills, and in the sphere of training specialists, additional recruitment of officers into our educational establishments and in military-technical cooperation," Shoigu said.