It is most unlikely that Syria could be interested in aggravating the border situation, Grushko said during a TV link from Brussels on Friday.

Earlier this week, NATO Foreign Ministers approved the deployment of Patriot anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon systems in Turkey.

Ankara said it requested Patriot batteries to protect its territory against shelling from Syria. Several hundred NATO troops are also due to be deployed in Turkey to service the missile systems.

Voice of Russia, Interfax