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Russia to bypass Greek airspace for aid flights to Syria: Report

This January 19, 2014 photo shows workers off-loading humanitarian aid donated by Russia at the Damascus International Airport. (SANA photo)

Russia is reportedly planning to bypass the Greek airspace for its aid flights to Syria, after Washington called on Athens to block Moscow’s access to the Greek air routes.

An unnamed official in the Greek government said on Tuesday that Russia will use an air route east of Greece for transportation of humanitarian aid to Syria, meaning it no longer needs the Greek airspace for such flights, Reuters reported.

The development came two days after the United States embassy in Athens demanded that the Greek government deny its airspace to the Russian aircraft. Greek officials have yet to accept the request.

Russia’s semi-official Sputnik news agency, however, said Athens does not confirm the Reuters report.

“I don't have such information,” Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Konstantinos Koutras said, adding, “Right now I can only confirm that we received such a request on Sunday and it is under discussion.”

Displaced Syrians, who fled their houses due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, queue up to receive aid food in the northern city of Aleppo, on September 7, 2015. (AFP Photo)

 

Moscow has reacted to the US demand, saying that it could use alternative air routes for accomplishing its humanitarian missions to Syria. First Deputy Head of the International Committee of the Russian Federation Council Vladimir Jabbarov said on Monday that countries like Iran, Turkey and Central Asian states are ready to assist Russia in this regard.

The US has actively sought the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad though support for the militants operating the country. Nearly 240,000 Syrians have been killed in the four-year violence.

Moscow and Washington have also been at odds over an armed conflict in Ukraine, where they support the opposing sides of a bloody battle in the east of the country. 

Bulgaria denies airspace to Russia

Meanwhile, officials in Bulgaria say they have refused access to the country’s airspace to a Russian humanitarian flight destined for Syria. 

“The Bulgarian foreign ministry has refused flights over Bulgaria of Russian military transport planes en route to Syria,” Bulgarian foreign ministry's spokeswoman Betina Zhoteva said Tuesday, adding that Bulgaria “has serious doubts about the cargo of the planes.” 

A report on the Bulgarian newspaper Kathimerini said Russia has decided to deliver its aid to Syria via Iran. Russia or Iran have yet to comment on the issue.


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