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Russian diplomat says Turkey shut window of opportunity for constructive dialogue on Syria

16 December 2015 10:56 (UTC +04:00)

"Our stance [on Syria] has not changed before, during or after the incident with the Russian bomber," she said. "We had different opinions over a number of regional issues with Turkey, but we maintained interaction with the Turkish counterparts in attempts to narrow differences."

"One of the effects of that incident [involving Russia’s Sukhoi-24 plane] was we have started open discussions with Turkey along the Syrian settlement track," Zakharova said. "Before, we were saying everything outright, but behind closed doors, acting in a way a partner should do. But after what we’ve seen - after the shooting down of the Sukhoi-24 and after Ankara’s terrible rhetoric - Turkey has shut the window of opportunity for a constructive dialogue."