Russian and Polish empathy over the tragic plane crash in western Russia which claimed the lives of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and another 94 individuals, will help in overcoming challenges between the two countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
"What is happening today in the relations between Russia and Poland is filled with deep symbolism," Lavrov said.
"I honestly believe, as the vast majority of Russians and Poles believe and hope, that the empathy between the two peoples over the tragedy in Smolensk will be a turning point in overcoming the mutual tragic past and thereby will contribute to building a genuine great Europe, unthinkable outside of a normal, human dimension of relations between states and peoples, uncomplicated by ideological constructions and political expediency," he continued.
Kaczynski, his wife, and an official delegation of senior officials died when the plane taking them to a ceremony to pay tribute to some 20,000 Polish officers murdered by Soviet secret police in 1940 crashed near west Russia's Smolensk on April 10. There were 96 people aboard the plane, including 8 crewmembers. No one survived.
MOSCOW, April 29 (RIA Novosti)
