Turkish President ‘saddened’ by plane incident

Russian officials, in defending the policy change effective January 1, accused Turkey of allowing terrorists to pass through its borders and refusing to share information about Russians with terror ties.

The body of a Russian pilot killed after his jet was shot down by the Turkish military has been handed over to Turkish authorities, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told journalists in Ankara on Sunday.

The countries disagree sharply on whether the Russian plane was in Turkish airspace when it was shot down, as well as whether any warnings went out to the crew.

Erdogan nevertheless has said he wants a direct meeting with Putin when the two leaders are in Paris next week for the United Nations climate summit. Russian Federation has shown no interest. Russian and Turkish political analysts have said the plane was more likely targeted because Russia had been bombing Turkish-trained Turkmen rebels in Syria’s north.

Turkish government spokesman Numan Kurtulmus said Turkey is deliberating which measures to take in light of Russia’s retaliatory steps.

In accordance with the decree, Turkish companies of transportation shall be restricted in their operations in Russian territories, with Turkish ships and boats being banned from staying at or navigating across Russian ports, while import of certain goods from Turkey will be halted.

But now Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for the first time voiced regret over the incident as he said his country “wish it hadn’t happened”.

Asked why Putin hasn’t picked up the phone to respond to Erdogan’s two phone calls, he said that “we have seen that the Turkish side hasn’t been ready to offer an elementary apology over the plane incident”.

Mr Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Kremlin has received Mr Erdogan’s request for a meeting, but he would not say whether one will take place.

Turkey says the Russian warplane violated its airspace, while Moscow says the Su-24 bomber never left Syria.

“What’s important is that everyone who is able to use their influence to guarantee at least some predictability in the pattern of Turkey’s behavior”, said Peskov.

The Turkish military says it sent a number of warnings to the Russian jet before firing a missile, some 17 seconds after the plane entered Turkish air space.