Lavrov: Warplane's downing may have been attempt to disrupt Vienna process on Syria
NICOSIA. Dec 2 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes the downing of a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft in Syria by the Turkish Air Force may have been an attempt to disrupt the Vienna process on Syria.
Moscow remains committed to the negotiations on Syria in Vienna and expects all parties to the process to adhere to the agreements on compiling lists of terrorist organizations and the opposition, Lavrov said at a joint press conference with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
"We value their [Cyprus's] solidarity with us in light of what Turkey has done by absolutely unreasonably shooting down a Russian bomber performing an antiterrorist mission. It's hard to shrug off the impression that someone wanted to disrupt the process that was started in Vienna within the framework of an international support group for Syria and help the Islamists come to power both in the Syrian Arab Republic and in the region," Lavrov said.
"We are committed to the Vienna process and expect that all participants in the international group in support for Syria without any exception will strictly and accurately observe the agreements both as regards the drafting of a list of terrorist organizations and the forming of a truly representative opposition delegation for negotiations with the government," Lavrov added.
