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The President expressed his condolences to the friends and relatives of flight attendant Yulia Fomina and a citizen of Turkey, who were shot dead during the rescue operation aboard the plane.

The head of state pointed to the heroism of all members of the aircraft crew.

According to Mr Putin, the tragedy was a reminder to Russia and the world of those whom the Russian Army was fighting in its counter-terrorist operation in the North Caucasus.

The leaders of militant groups had come to the conclusion that they could not openly resist the Russian Army and special services. They had moved outside Russian territory and were trying to carry out their hostile activities from abroad, the President said.

Mr Putin instructed the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry to offer their Turkish colleagues an acceptable and effective plan for cooperation in fighting terrorism. He also asked the heads of special services to focus on obtaining predictive information on the activities of militant leaders, no matter where they may be.

The President expressed hope that the hijacking of the plane and the subsequent rescue operation would promote cooperation in fighting international terrorism.

The participants in the meeting were: Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service Vladimir Pronichev, who was in charge of the hostage rescue operation, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Alexander Voloshin, Security Council Secretary Sergei Ivanov, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Lebedev, Director of the Federal Security Service Nikolai Patrushev, First Deputy Transport Minister Alexander Neradko, Presidential Aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky.