Turkey open to talks with Russia to defuse tensions: Davutoglu

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Ankara is open to negotiations with Moscow to defuse the ongoing tensions over the downing of a Russian fighter jet on the Syrian soil.

“We are ready to talk to Russia and to exchange every type of opinion. But we will never allow it [Russia] to dictate anything to us,” Davutoglu said at a meeting organized by Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) in Istanbul on Saturday.

The top Turkish diplomat further criticized Russia’s package of economic sanctions against Turkey in retaliation for the shooting down of a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber in Syria as well as President Vladimir Putin’s recent attitude against Turkey. 

“We should not allow our relations to be destroyed over economic sanctions, while we have been exerting efforts to resolve this political crisis with Russia,” Davutoglu stated. 

The Turkish government does not view these sanctions helpful at all, he added.

Davutoglu also condemned Putin’s recent anti-Turkey opinion, stating that “it did not suit a statesman.”

On December 17, Putin once again condemned Turkey for downing the Russian military aircraft, and said it is now “practically impossible” to overcome tensions with Turkey. 

The Russian leader said on December 3 that Moscow cannot yet comprehend why the downing took place, adding that the death of a Russian pilot in the incident would have long-term consequences for those responsible.

Putin further stressed that Moscow’s anger over the jet downing is directed at particular individuals and not at the Turkish nation.

On November 24, Turkey shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber with two pilots aboard, claiming the fighter jet had violated the Turkish airspace. One of the pilots lost his life in the incident and the other was rescued in a Syrian army operation.

Moscow has dismissed Ankara’s claims, saying the plane was brought down in Syria’s airspace, where Russia has been conducting operations against Takfiri terrorists since September 30 upon a request by the Damascus government.

Following the incident, Moscow imposed a number of punitive measures against Ankara, including import restriction on Turkish foods, a ban on tourist travel to Turkey, an embargo on hiring Turkish citizens in Russia and a ban on Turkish organizations’ activities in Russia.

Russia wants Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to apologize for the downing of the aircraft, but he has remained defiant and refused to do so.

On December 18, Russian experts started to examine the black box of the downed Russian fighter jet to determine its path and position before the incident.

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