MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Bulgaria's decision to close its airspace for Russian transport planes with humanitarian aid for Syria is an unfriendly step, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday.
The statement comes two days after Bulgaria had banned Russian military aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Syria from entering Bulgarian airspace, citing concerns over "the purpose of the flights and the cargo."
8 September 2015, 11:04 GMT
"We would like to draw attention on moral and political responsibility of the current Bulgarian authorities and consequences of such a blatantly unfriendly step toward Russia and the Syrian people," Zakharova said.
Bulgaria's decision to deny its airspace to Russian aid flights to Syria comes after a similar request was allegedly made by the United States to Greece. A diplomatic source in Athens told RIA Novosti last week that Washington had asked Greece to prohibit Russian aircraft from using its airspace for aid deliveries to Syria, however, Athens refused to do so.
"A ban on aid for the civilian population will worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Syria and push another wave of refugees to Europe."
