Lavrov Says Turkey 'Crossed the Line' with Warplane Downing

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Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday said that Ankara has crossed the line by shooting down a Russian warplane this week and warned the incident could severely undermine Turkey's interests.

"We believe that the Turkish leadership has crossed the line of what is acceptable," Lavrov said at the start of talks with Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem in Moscow.

Ankara "risks putting Turkey in a most severe situation, with respect to both its long-term national interests and the situation in the region," he said.

Moscow is reeling after a Russian warplane carrying out strikes in Syria was shot down on the Turkish-Syrian border on Tuesday -- an incident President Vladimir Putin described as a "treachery" and a "stab in the back."

Ankara has argued that it did not realize the plane, which it said had violated Turkish airspace, was Russian, and claimed it issued multiple warnings to the pilot to change course.

The incident led to the death of two Russian officers -- Moscow's first combat deaths since it launched a bombing campaign in Syria on September 30 -- including the pilot and a special forces soldier who participated in a rescue operation.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday sought to ease tensions with Moscow, calling for unity against the Islamic State group and arguing the shooting of the plane was not an act against Russia.

The Kremlin however did not seem in a conciliatory mood.

Putin on Friday discussed the downing with his security council, particularly the "increased tensions over Syria against the background of Turkey's aggressive and unpredictable actions," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Russian government is currently preparing economic retaliatory measures against Turkey, a major trading partner particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors.

Peskov confirmed the Kremlin had received a proposal from Erdogan to hold a meeting with Putin in Paris next week but did not say whether Moscow had accepted or refused the offer.

Putin had previously refused to take Erdogan's call following the plane downing. 

Peskov confirmed that Putin was "made aware" of the Turkish leader's attempt to communicate, which was made several hours after the plane was shot down.

Comments 6
Thumb ex-fpm 27 November 2015, 16:16

"The Russian government is currently preparing economic retaliatory measures against Turkey, a major trading partner particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors."

laughable indeed.... Russia's economy is reeling from heavy sanctions by Europe and the United States and its currency is in shambles and yet, Putin thinks he can impose sanctions on the Turkish economy that has the whole world open to it including Iran. Those sanctions will hurt Russia more than they would Turkey.

Missing arturo 27 November 2015, 21:30

Yes, but you must agree that's its fun to watch this show. For many its a win regardless of what happens!!

Thumb lubnani.masi7i 27 November 2015, 16:41

44 minutes ago Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said his country will suspend visa-free entry for Turks as of January 1.

lol, I am sure more Russians go to Sun drenched beaches in Turkey than Turks going to frozen depressing Russia ;) Putin, you lose again!

Missing oldnewjoke 27 November 2015, 16:54

hahaha this silly guy is a much bigger joker than I am! It's even funnier that his jokes aren't intentional!

Default-user-icon John (Guest) 27 November 2015, 19:51

The cheap language of your reader is very vulgar and cheap. Naha must not publish these comments, it indicates what sort of readers read your paper.

Default-user-icon darwr101 (Guest) 28 November 2015, 08:46

Erdogan has no sympathy on this one not even from NATO who likely chided him privately...while appearing to cautiously back him publicly. It was a stupid move given the risks which could have started a major conflict on top of the already disastrous situation in Syria.