Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Holds Weekly Press Briefing

 Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet over Syria on Tuesday during her weekly press briefing.

The Turkish Air Force made no attempts to contact the Russian Su-24 Flanker bomber before it was downed and the aircraft did not cross the Turkish border, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday, according to the Russian Sputnik News.

“According to exact information…our plane didn’t cross the border with Turkey. This is also confirmed by Syrian air defense systems. Moreover, according to radio electronic intelligence from the Hmeymim Airbase, it has become a fact that there was an airspace violation against Syria by the Turkish Air Force plane that attacked [the Su-24],” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing.

Zakharova added that “there were no attempts from the Turkish airplane to contact or establish visual contact with our crew.”

“A breach of international humanitarian law took place during the shooting of our pilot. In particular, we’re talking about an attack on someone unable to fight, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law.”

“What happened [with the Russian Su-24 bomber downed by Turkey on November 24] looks like a political phantasmagoria”, Zakharova said quoting Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilioni.

Presence of US Military Instructors in Ukraine Violates Minsk Accords

The presence of US military instructors in Ukraine violates the Minsk peace agreement and undermines efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in Donbass, the Maria Zakharova said.

“I’d like to emphasize that the presence of foreign paratroopers and weaponry on the Ukrainian soil blatantly violates the Minsk agreements by Kiev.”

“The Americans with their Canadian and Lithuanian partners in NATO have agreed to train a new batch of Ukrainian cadets. It’s some five battalions and it’s obvious that such actions are not pacifist and do not help the de-escalation,” Zakharova stressed.

Annulment of Russia-NATO Founding Act May Destroy European Security

The annulment of a 1997 deal on Russia-NATO ties could destroy the system of European security, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

Poland’s new Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski on Wednesday urged the annulment of the 1997 Russia-NATO Founding Act as it does not reflect the current political realities.

“I sincerely hope that the alliance realizes the long-term negative consequences of the implementation of such an initiative, if it is really an initiative rather than a random thought.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on November 27 to discuss settling the political process in the country, Maria Zakharova said.

“Extremely detailed talks are planned for November 27 with the head of the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Lavrov. The focus of the talks will be settling the political process with the goal of settling the Syrian crisis,” Zakharova said during her weekly briefing.

She said the conditions to begin dialogue between official Damascus and the Syrian opposition needs to be created by the end of the year.

“In line with the understanding reached within the framework of the international group of Syrian support, the needed conditions to begin dialogue between the government of Syria and the Syrian opposition need to be created around the end of this year,” Zakharova added.

Sergei Lavrov will attend a foreign ministerial level Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe meeting in Belgrade December 3-4 to discuss joint efforts in the fight against terrorism.

“The upcoming ministerial meeting will be held on the backdrop of a wave of terrorism that has already practically and factually drowned Europe and the neighboring regions. It’s expected that the OSCE member state ministers will discuss the sources of terrorism and the need to join efforts in the fight against this evil.”

“On December 1-2, Sergey Lavrov will be on a working visit to Cyprus. The program includes a meeting with the country’s president, talks with the foreign minister. In addition, talks are planned with the head of the House of Representatives and the head of the Cypriot Orthodox Church,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced.

According to Zakharova, the sides will exchange views on Russia-EU relations.