MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias expressed solidarity with Russia's assessments of Turkey's moves as unfriendly and running counter to the fight against the Islamic State, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
"On behalf of the country's leadership, the Greek minister expressed his condolences over the destruction of a Russian plane by Turkey's air force and the death of a pilot carrying out coutnerterrorism tasks in Syria. Athens expressed solidarity with the Russian president's assessment of Ankara's actions as unfriendly toward Russia and contrary to the objectives of the anti-ISIL coalition," the ministry said in a statement.
The Greek minister made his remarks in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
"Athens is particularly understanding of Turkey's provocative line in light of regular, repeated violations of Greek airspace by Ankara, that have continued for years," the Russian ministry said.
