Russian FM says willing to meet Turkish FM in Belgrade

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that he is willing to meet his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Cavusoglu in Belgrade later this week to discuss tensions between Russia and Turkey.

"We will not refuse this proposal," Lavrov said at a press conference after talks in Nicosia with his Cypriot counterpart.

He was invited to comment on a proposal by Cavusoglu, during a visit to the occupied part of Cyprus on Nov. 26 that the two meet on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) between Dec. 3 and 4.

"We will meet with the Turkish Foreign Minister and will hear what he has to say," Lavrov added.

But he added that what had to be said by Russia has been said by President Vladimir Putin.

"We consider Turkey's action of downing the Russian aircraft as aggressive and unmotivated," said Lavrov, adding that Russia-Turkey relations "can not be developed according to the motto business as usual."

Lavrof also said that there have been efforts to undermine the political process which started in Vienna in the framework of the Syria Support Group.

"There are efforts to enable Islamist thrive," Lavrov added.

He stressed that Russia's main goal is to prevent the penetration of terrorist threat which is thriving in the Turkish territory to the Russian Federation.

Talking at the same press conference, Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said that Cyprus voiced its support to Russia on the issue of the downing of aircraft. Endit