News / Turkey

Turkish president ‘sad’ about Russia plane downing

Saturday, 28 November 2015 2:01 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 28 November 2015 2:01 PM ]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (AFP photo)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed “sadness” over a recent move by Turkey’s military to shoot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border.

Erdogan said on Saturday that he regretted the November 24 downing of the Su-24M fighter jet, which Turkish officials had accused of violating the Turkish airspace.

"We are truly saddened by this incident," Erdogan said. "We wish it hadn't happened as such, but unfortunately such a thing has happened. I hope that something like this doesn't occur again."

Russia dismisses Ankara’s claims and says the fighter jet was downed in the Syrian airspace, where the Russian air force has been carrying out combat sorties against Takfiri terrorists since September 30 upon a request by the Syrian government.

“This incident upset us greatly. I really hope this will not happen again,” Erdogan stated.

The Turkish president had on Friday warned Russia “not to play with fire,” in reference to Moscow’s potential retaliatory moves over the incident, which may include an array of economic and military sanctions.

The October 5, 2015 photo shows Russian air force pilots and technicians checking a Russian Sukhoi Su-30 jet fighter at the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia. (AFP photo)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that “Turkey’s reactions to the incident… reminds of the Theatre of the Absurd.”

During the Saturday address, Erdogan urged Russia to leave the door open for a mutual settlement of the dispute.

“We shall discuss this issue and find a solution. On Monday, Paris will host the international climate summit, this could be a chance to restore our relations with Russia,” Erdogan said, adding, “Confrontation will not make anyone happy. As Russia is important for Turkey, Turkey is important for Russia. We cannot remove each other from the horizon.”

In response to the Tuesday incident, Russia has imposed restrictions on tourist travel with Turkey, while a large number of Turkish trucks are left stranded at the Russian border. The Russian Defense Ministry has also suspended all military agreements with Turkey.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday said it is preparing travel alert for citizens willing to go to Russia.

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