Turkey Will not Apologize to Russia Over Downed Jet: Erdogan

The tug-of-war escalated after a Russian warplane was downed by a Turkish fighter jet at the border with Syria, Tuesday, November 24, insisting it had violated its airspace despite repeated warnings.

“At this time, Turkey remains fully committed to fighting Isis as part of the worldwide coalition”, he told AFP, using another name for the Isis group.

The sanctions will include “restrictions and bans on Turkish economic structures operating in Russian territory, restrictions and bans on deliveries of products, including foodstuffs”, as well as on labor and services. He added that Russian military had informed Turkey’s ally, the United States, about the plane’s coordinates.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey has released audio recordings of what it says are the Turkish military’s warnings to the pilot of the Russian plane that was shot down at the border with Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said it’s America’s fault that Turkey shot down a Russian jet.

Erdogan also “stressed that the USA have documented proof that Russian companies and Islamic State are selling oil to the Syrian regime”, Reuters reported, and rejected as “slander” Russia’s claims it was Turkey who was buying oil from IS.

He went on: “In advance, in accordance with our agreement with the USA, we gave information on where our planes would be working – at what altitude, and in what areas”.

But Putin said that was impossible as the aircraft bore Russian insignia.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan struck a defiant tone.

With Turkey refusing to apologize for its actions, Russian Federation will also deploy its most high-tech air defense system to its base in Syria. Russia is Turkey’s second largest trading partner, while Turkey is the biggest foreign destination for Russian tourists.

He said he and the French leader had “agreed how we will cooperate in the near future, on a bilateral basis and with, as a whole, the coalition led by the US”. “Faced with the same violation today, Turkey would give the same response”, he said.