World

Russia will not wage war on Turkey after it downed Russian jet: foreign minister

Russia's foreign minister says they have serious doubts that downing of the jet was an unpremeditated act by Turkey

Afp November 25, 2015

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. PHOTO: AFP

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow was not planning on going to war against Turkey after Ankara's downing of a Russian fighter jet.

"We do not plan to go to war with Turkey, our attitude toward the Turkish people has not changed," Lavrov told reporters after speaking with his Turkish counterpart, but warned that Moscow would "seriously reevaluate" its ties with Ankara.

Russia's foreign minister also said that the downing of its fighter jet by Turkey appeared to be a "planned provocation" as the incident heightened tensions between Moscow and Ankara.

"We have serious doubts about this being an unpremeditated act, it really looks like a planned provocation," Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow.

Putin rages as Turkey shoots down Russian plane

Earlier on November 24, Turkey shot down a Russian military plane on the Syrian border, local media reported, citing military sources.

A plane exploded in the air and the fireball fell on a Turkmen mountain on the Syrian side of the border, CNN-Turk and NTV televisions reported.

Meanwhile, the Turkish presidency said the warplane shot down by Turkey was Russian, adding the aircraft had violated Turkish airspace.

A day after the downing, President Vladimir Putin backed a recommendation from the foreign ministry for Russians not to visit Turkey after the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Ankara.

Russia seethes as Turkey downs jet

“After such tragic events like the destruction of our plane and the death of our pilot, this is a necessary measure,” Putin said in televised comments.

COMMENTS (24)

musa levent | 8 years ago | Reply What Russia is doing ; My Pakistani brothers, ı am a Turk and lived in Pakistan around 6 years between 2004-2010. And i am really suprised when I see the comments of our Pakistani brothers. 1-Russia in Syria till now did not attack even 1 time to Isis. They only bombed opponents specially opponent Turkmens. Have you ever hear it seen 1 Isis terrorist kill? No.. they are only trying to open a corridor to Middle east bcs till now Esed and Isis are partners in oil trading. Pls review your knowledge. Russia is not there to bring peace as peace is a word which Putin has never heart. 2-thia plane was overthe board for 5 min and provocating and warned 10 times. All records u can see on webpages. They were 2 , and 1 of them turn back when realise Turkish pilots will bomb them but the socond one cross the boards 17 seconds to provocate. 3- we Turks do not trust Nato and only ourselves. We do not need any European to protect our country. With 41 million ready soldier we can protect our country. Pls trust and pray. 4- since our primary schools we are tought we have only 1 brothwr country in the world and it is Pakistan. Now i feel very upset when I see some Pakistani brothers are supporting Russia against Turkey. No matter in any case Pakistan is facing we are near Pakistan. If you do not think same I respect. This is a 3 rd world war and in misdlw east everyone aware this. Best regards

Aahjiz BayNawa | 8 years ago | Reply @Vap: The truth is NATO is getting ready to defend Turkey from Russia.

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Warnings | 8 years ago | Reply @Vap: Warnings were given not only when the planes entered Turkish airspace but warnings also preceded their entry as the planes were flying near Turkish airspace and approaching it. Even before this incident, several violations of Turkish airspace had been taking place but Turkey only warned and Turkey had to act as a last resort. You say "and it was done on the behest of NATO." and also state:"..Turkey wants NATO to get in Middle East Quagmire" So if it was done at the behest of NATO, it would be NATO wanting Turkey to get into the "Middle East Quagmire." Actually, NATO is getting ready to defend Turkey from Russian expansionist designs.

Vap | 8 years ago | Reply @Jameel ur Rasheed: Plane stayed in Turkish air space for like 17 seconds, how do you give 10 warnings in 17 seconds. We all know Turkey wants NATO to get in Middle East Quagmire and it was done on the behest of NATO.

Excerpts | 8 years ago | Reply Excerpts from: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/range-of-frustrations-reached-boil-as-turkey-shot-down-russian-jet/ar-BBnqTGN?ocid=spartandhp “The reply from the Turkish government so far has been consistent: Don’t say we didn’t warn you.” “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday evening — and a Pentagon spokesman later confirmed — that before a Turkish F-16 shot down the Russian Su-24 jet, Turkish forces had warned the Russian plane 10 times in five minutes to steer away.” “Mr. Erdogan particularly emphasized the ethnic tie in a speech Tuesday evening, saying, “We strongly condemn attacks focusing on areas inhabited by Bayirbucak Turkmen — we have our relatives, our kin there.”

Sarwar | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: Without Turkey, NATO will be not half as effective against Russia, as Turkey has one of the largest well-equipped army in Europe. Then, again, it is not the Turks that are coming near Russian territory, it is the Russians that are. True, that Turkey's nuclear security is insured through the nuclear umbrella that the US and NATO provides. Conventional perspective overestimates the power of Russia while underestimating that of Turkey.

Muhammad Altaf | 8 years ago | Reply Every one it seems sorry about Russian pilot killed who was showering flowers on civilians on the ground from his bomber. For Russians and its supporters only message is please do not forgot lesson of AFGHANISTAN other wise this time they will pay with disintegration of their so called Mother Russia. Also understand clearly Turkey is no Georgia or Ukraine.

Free Advice | 8 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmih: So, you know Turkish interests better than the Turks!

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply @Sarwar:

You are right. Russia and Turkey were eyeball to eyeball and Russia blinked.

Russia and NATO/US were eye to eye. Don't give too much credit to Turkey alone.

Sarwar | 8 years ago | Reply @Hameed: You are right. Russia and Turkey were eyeball to eyeball and Russia blinked.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply It is a sad and unfortunate affair, sad because a Russian pilot paid with his life. Let no one misunderstand the resolve of todays Turkey to protect its sovereignty. The Americans know it and now valadimir knows it as well. Like the Pope prophisied, the world is heading towards the third world war, with sixty countries alliance against IS but none prepared to send its ground forces all relying on areal bombing and the locals fighting it out in the ruins of once flourishing cities just to survive allowing IS to expand its territory... Rex Minor

Unrealistic | 8 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmih: "Even if the Russian fighter jet strayed into the Turkish airspace, there was no real need to shoot the down the aircraft, ..." Quite unrealistic to expect any nation to forego violation of its territorial space, especially given the warnings against intrusions and given the expansionist and aggressive role that Russia is playing in the region.

Sarwar | 8 years ago | Reply "“planned provocation”" was by Russia not Turkey. And, since Russia was just testing the Turkish resolve, there would be no retaliation as Russia is in a no win situation. Miscalculation by Putin has resulted in a setback for Russia. This is a rare faux pas by Putin. Now he knows the limit of expansionism in the area. Good, calculated retaliation by a NATO member probably was preplanned by NATO, in case Russia violated Turkish airspace.

PAK FA | 8 years ago | Reply @Parvez: I agree with you. It's Like bear asking... Did my back Hurt your Knife??? People fail to understand how proud Russians as a nation are. Erdogan is playing with fire and shall face the consequences in the days to come... May it be from Armenian border or from Kursiah side...

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply Very mature decision by Russia............but Turkey should remember the Russian bear has a long memory.

Hameed | 8 years ago | Reply Russia blinked. Russia will be seen as weak in the world and Putin within Russia.

Chuck | 8 years ago | Reply Russia won't wage war on Turkey because their is no strategic gain and no chance it can win the conflict. It's not because they are generous. Turkey is their second largest export customer and they control the Russian navy access to the Mediterranean. Many would argue that Turkey has Russia by the short hairs, not the other way around.

abhi | 8 years ago | Reply Turkey under Erdogan is becoming a fundamentalist country day by day.

Saad | 8 years ago | Reply Erdogan has become too big for his shoes. He needs to be taught a lesson.

S.R.H. Hashmih | 8 years ago | Reply Even if the Russian fighter jet strayed into the Turkish airspace, there was no real need to shoot the down the aircraft, especially in the circumstances where there is no ongoing hostility between Russia and Turkey. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in reaction to the shooting “We do not plan to go to war with Turkey, our attitude toward the Turkish people has not changed,” and added that Moscow would “seriously reevaluate” its ties with Ankara. The Russian Foreign Minister also remarked “We have serious doubts about this being an unpremeditated act, it really looks like a planned provocation”. And considering all the circumstances, one feels inclined to believe the Russian statement. While Turkey and Russia are not at war, however it is also a fact that the two are backing opposing sides. And as compared to Russia – and Iran and Hezbollah – backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Turkey, its NATO allies as well as some Middle Eastern countries want al-Assad removed. And seeing the plight of Iraq, Libya, Iraqis ad Libyans after their strong and effective rulers were eliminated, one is left in no doubt that anybody demanding the removal of al-Assad could not be a friend of Syria, Syrians and in facts Muslim states and their citizens in the Middle East. And while one could understand some short-sighted Middle Eastern rulers and NATO countries trying to destabilize and dismember Syria, adoption of the same approach by Turkey is simply incomprehensible. Can’t Turkish leaders see that with Syria dismembered, they would be next? And the NATO countries which are pledging full support to Turkey against Russian might only be interested in using Turkey against Russia, much like the Americans used Pakistan against Soviet Union. Looking at it another way, if Turkey has not been successful in entering European Union as a member while countless other states have been allowed in, surely they can’t be considered Turkey’s friend. Russian is playing a very constructive role by hitting hard at Daesh, and for the good of the region, as well as for its own sake, Turkey should get over the negative, sectarian and ethnic feelings and join Russia. Karachi

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @Akbar: But like Pakistan, Turkey will pay the price a Be careful with your judgement sir? Turkey has allowed more than two million syrian refugees in its borders without any monetry support from its NATO allies for over three years and has virtualy no control on its porus border with Syria. The European Union has now realised its short comings due to hundereds and thousand of asylum seekers rushing across into Europe and are now prepared to pay billions of Euros to Turkey to saveguard European terrotorial integrity.. Russia intervention has beought home to the American administration to change its Regime Change strategy into support the political reconciliation among the syrian people within and along side the international borders thereby curbing the activities of nn state actors where IS monster is now operating. Turkey is part of the stability and not a chaotic middle east. Rex Minor

Kaleem | 8 years ago | Reply @Akbar: In which world you are living bro? People are traveling all through KPK (not NWFP) and Balochistan without an issue. Now do not focus on specific incidents otherwise Paris will be no go area too. Realize that terrorism incidents are down by 60%. Pakistan has changed, it is on upward trajectory. Thanks to our generals and top political leadership.

Jameel ur Rasheed | 8 years ago | Reply Flying too close to international borders (like surfing on wafer thin ice) is not provocation while shooting down a plane already in receipt of ten warnings is provocation. There is something literally wrong with dictionary used by super powers!

Akbar | 8 years ago | Reply Turkey, like Pakistan will have to pay the price. Pakistan meddled with Afghanistan at the behest of Saudi by creating Taliban. Now the whole of NWFP &Balochistan are No Go areas for Pakistani's. Now drugs, arms flow freely. Over a million Pakistani's have died since Zia times. Turkey has become gateway for militants across the world just like Pakistan imported militants from ME. Like Afghanistan has been completely destroyed by Pakistan in the name of jihad, Syria will also be destroyed. But like Pakistan, Turkey will pay the price

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