Turkey Won’t Apologize for Shooting Down Russian Plane as Russia Takes Action

AP Photos

Supported by NATO, Turkey is refusing to apologize for shooting down a Russian fighter jet that it says violated its airspace near the Syrian-Turkey border.

“No country should ask us to apologize,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters following a meeting with NATO’s secretary general at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, according to Reuters.

“The protection of our land borders, our airspace, is not only a right, it is a duty.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Nov. 26 that he’s waiting for an apology. Turkey’s president tried to meet with Putin, but his Russian counterpart refused.

Davutoglu added that he’s ready to provide any information that Russia seeks on the situation. 

“If the Russian side wants to talk, we are ready; if they want more information, we are ready; if they want to normalize relations, we are ready to talk,” he said.

He also said that Turkish officials “hope Russia will reconsider these measures in both our interests.”

Russia over the past few days has announced a series of measures against Turkey, including restrictions on migrant workers from there in Russia, and cancellations of charter flights and tour packages that include Turkey.

In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, the Osa missile defense system on the Russian missile cruiser Moskva is seen near the shore of Syria’s province of Latakia, Syria. The Russian military has ordered the ship equipped with an array of air defense missile systems to help protect Russian warplanes flying combat missions in Syria after the downing of a Russian military jet by Turkey. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service pool photo via AP

Turkish army tanks are stationed at a train station after their arrival from western Turkey, in Gaziantep, Turkey, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Turkey shot down the Russian Su-24 bomber at the Syrian border on Tuesday, insisting it had violated its airspace despite repeated warnings. The tanks are expected to be deployed to the border with Syria. DHA agency via AP

Turkish and Russian military officers, rear, salute as a Turkish honour guard carry the coffin of Russian pilot Lt. Col. Oleg Peshkov into a Russian Air Force transport plane at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. Early Saturday, Turkey had taken delivery of the body of Lt. Col Peshkov who was killed after Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian-Turkish border last Tuesday. Turkish Military, via AP

 

Included in the measures is a food ban.

Ben Aris, editor-in-chief of the Business New Europe magazine, told state-affiliated Sputnik News that the ban will hurt Turkey, noting that Russian tourists bring about $6.5 billion a year to Turkey’s economy while Turkish companies often do business in Russia.

“They [Russian sanctions] can hurt Turkey badly,” Aris said.

Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Moscow should agree to new emergency procedures that are expected to be discussed this week by NATO foreign ministers, including revamping the Vienna document, which includes military communication protocols.

“It has to be modernized because there are several loopholes,” Stoltenberg said.

He also said Russia should coordinate with the U.S.-led bombing efforts against the Islamic State as most of the Russian bombs have targeted other, more moderate groups.

“Their bombing is taking place in areas where ISIL is not present at all,” Stoltenberg said.