Yury Fokin insisted the Defense Ministry had been informed of Wednesday's launch from Norway in advance. A spokesman for Fokin's office confirmed his comments, published by Interfax.
Fokin, who heads the Foreign Ministry's Second European Department, said a prior announcement had been relayed twice to the Defense Ministry, first Dec. 28 and again Dec. 30.
"There must be no ill will toward the Norwegian side, which fulfilled all the usual procedures for such situations," Fokin said. "This was a misunderstanding, which should not happen again."
The Defense Ministry would not comment Monday
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