Russia, U.S. plan to resume talks on Syria air safety

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia has agreed to resume talks with the U.S. on air safety during Syria bombing campaigns, says the Pentagon, according to BBC News.

The talks "are likely to take place as soon as this weekend," said press secretary Peter Cook.

There have been concerns that there could be an accidental clash as the two countries pursue separate bombing campaigns over Syria.

The U.S. and its NATO allies have also been alarmed at violations of Turkish air space by Russian jets.

U.S. and Russian officials conducted talks on air safety via video conference on October 1, but the US had complained that they had heard nothing from Moscow since then.

Earlier this week, Pentagon officials said they had had to carry out at least one "safe separation" manoeuvre to avoid a U.S. jet coming too close to a Russian aircraft over Syria.

They said this happened after October 1, without giving a specific date.

Talks are likely to deal with how much separation there should between U.S. and Russian aircraft and which language and radio frequencies crews should use for communications.