Turkey: rules of engagement if it violated the airspace warns A. Davutoglu
Turkey will activate the rules of engagement in case of violation of its airspace, today warned the Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, after incident caused to the border with Syria by a Russian aircraft.
"Our rules of engagement are clear for anyone violating our airspace," said Davutoglu in an interview to a private television network Haber-Turk, in which underlined that the Turkish armed forces have a mandate to curb "even a bird '.
Davutoglu also added in the same interview that was broadcast live by the network that Moscow described the entrance of the military aircraft in Turkish airspace as a "mistake."
Turkish Prime Minister also noted that the entry of Russia in the conflict in Syria escalated the crisis, but was quick to stress that "the Syrian issue does not create a crisis between Turkey and Russia", which have significant commercial interests.
"They remain open the channels for dialogue," he said and expressed hope that Moscow will abandon its "wrong positions" in the Syrian crisis in general.
Russian aircraft entered the Turkish airspace near the border with Syria Saturday, forcing Ankara to take off two aircraft F-16 to intercept, while the Russian ambassador in Ankara was invited to the Foreign Ministry to speak of the "strong protest "Turkish government.
Also today, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ferid Sinirlioglou to discuss the situation in Syria after the interception of Russian fighter Saturday in Turkish airspace, according to an official source.
The meeting was scheduled to be done early in the afternoon "is dedicated to the events of the weekend and the situation in Syria," he told AFP an official of NATO, adding that the realization of the meeting requested by Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ferid Sinirlioglou had also phoned previously to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to express its "strong protest" of the incident Saturday.
Turkey will activate the rules of engagement in case of violation of its airspace, today warned the Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, after incident caused to the border with Syria by a Russian aircraft.
"Our rules of engagement are clear for anyone violating our airspace," said Davutoglu in an interview to a private television network Haber-Turk, in which underlined that the Turkish armed forces have a mandate to curb "even a bird '.
Davutoglu also added in the same interview that was broadcast live by the network that Moscow described the entrance of the military aircraft in Turkish airspace as a "mistake."
Turkish Prime Minister also noted that the entry of Russia in the conflict in Syria escalated the crisis, but was quick to stress that "the Syrian issue does not create a crisis between Turkey and Russia", which have significant commercial interests.
"They remain open the channels for dialogue," he said and expressed hope that Moscow will abandon its "wrong positions" in the Syrian crisis in general.
Russian aircraft entered the Turkish airspace near the border with Syria Saturday, forcing Ankara to take off two aircraft F-16 to intercept, while the Russian ambassador in Ankara was invited to the Foreign Ministry to speak of the "strong protest "Turkish government.
Also today, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is expected to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ferid Sinirlioglou to discuss the situation in Syria after the interception of Russian fighter Saturday in Turkish airspace, according to an official source.
The meeting was scheduled to be done early in the afternoon "is dedicated to the events of the weekend and the situation in Syria," he told AFP an official of NATO, adding that the realization of the meeting requested by Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ferid Sinirlioglou had also phoned previously to Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to express its "strong protest" of the incident Saturday.