The United States hopes that controversies surrounding the probe into last year's Polish presidential crash in western Russia will not affect ties between Russia and Poland, a U.S. State Department spokesman said on Friday.
"We understand the sensitivities, the emotions that sorting through these issues can create," Philip Crowley said. "At this point, it is – we certainly would hope that this – the investigation of this tragedy does not in any way impede improved relations between Russia and Poland."
Crowley said the crash "has been fully investigated" and remained "a matter between Russia and Poland."
"I'm not aware that the United States has been asked to provide any particular assistance in the investigation of this accident. But, obviously, we are prepared to help in any way that might be - that either Poland or Russia would contemplate."
Russia's aviation authorities released a report last week citing pilot error as the main cause of the tragedy, which killed then President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others near the city of Smolensk last April. Polish experts and officials criticized the report, claiming it lacked evidence.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the following day that Poland might have to turn to international agencies if the two sides fail to agree on the causes of the crash.
WASHINGTON, January 21 (RIA Novosti)
