Turkish claims of airspace violation ‘propaganda’: Russian Federation

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul Ataturk Airport before his departure for Chile President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the violation of Turkish airspace which he also described asNATO airspace was a resultof Russian attempts to escalate existing tension in the region.

Erdogan’s remarks came a day after Turkish foreign ministry summoned Moscow’s envoy in Ankara over the Russian violation of country’s airspace. Gen. Igor Konashenkov denied there was any violation of Turkey’s airspace and called the Turkish statements “unsubstantiated propaganda”.

In November, Turkey shot down a Russian plane that it said violated its airspace near Syria, touching off a crisis between the two countries.

Moscow imposed a series of economic sanctions against Ankara after the incident, sparking the biggest crisis between the two countries since the Cold War.

On January 30, Turkey’s foreign ministry claimed a Russian warplane had allegedly violated the Turkish border on January 29.

Ankara also said the Russian plane was warned numerous times by Turkish air radar units “through appropriate channels” both in English and Russian languages.

Relations between Russia and Turkey, a vocal opponent of Mr Assad, plummeted after Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian SU-24 on 24 November. “If Russia continues to violate Turkey’s sovereignty, it will have to face the consequences”, he said, adding he had requested a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian fighter jet was a model SU-34, says the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Turkey is playing a political game by declaring an increase level of alarm at its air bases, Viktor Ozerov, the head of the Russian Federation Council committee on defense and security, said.

“We once more underline that unwanted serious developments as outcome of this kind of irresponsible acts will be on Russian Federation’s liability”, added the statement.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the Russian incursion into Turkish airspace “dangerous” behavior and reaffirmed the alliance’s solidarity with Turkey, a NATO member. Previous incidents have shown how risky such behaviour is.