Ahmet Davutoglu warns Moscow to quit 'threatening' attitude against
Turkish airspace
ANKARA
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu
has said that Russia could never cover up a violation of Turkey’s airspace as
the latest intrusion was detected on both Turkish and NATO radar.
Speaking at a news conference
at Saudi Arabia's Royal Palace on Sunday during a visit to Riyadh, Davutoglu
said:
"Since no country in the
world is isolated, it is impossible to hide a violation of airspace that
actually occurred or make one that never happened, look like it actually did.
“So Russia cannot [cover up]
the violations it committed on any grounds."
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs confirmed on Saturday that a Russian fighter jet -- a SU-34
fighter-bomber -- violated Turkish airspace on Friday at midday despite
repeated warnings by Turkish air radar units in Russian and English.
The Turkish Air Force declared an 'orange alert' in key bases around the country, military sources said on Saturday.
The Turkish Air Force declared an 'orange alert' in key bases around the country, military sources said on Saturday.
Davutoglu stated that the
incident was a very short violation by the Russian jet.
"Turkey never intends to
escalate the existing tension with Russia in any way, but it will always
display the necessary sensitivity to protect its airspace," he said.
The Turkish premier also
reiterated a warning against Moscow, saying its "threatening attitude
against Turkish airspace along with the damage it caused to the Syrian
opposition elements [on the ground] and the moderate opposition are not to
their interest."
Davutoglu noted that Ankara
and Riyadh will continue their support for Syria's moderate opposition, as
peace talks take place in Geneva.
The anti-Bashar-al-Assad
opposition delegation’s High Negotiations Committee met with UN envoy Staffan
de Mistura earlier on Sunday.
Davutoglu said he had talked
on the phone with the head of the opposition delegation, Riyadh Hijab, and
expressed his support.
"Turkey will always stand
beside the Syrian people, the moderate opposition but against Daesh, the regime
and foreign forces and state elements that steer towards invasion in
Syria," he added.
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