World

Erdogan, Obama agree on need to reduce tensions after Russian plane downed: Ankara

Turkish President and US President stress on the need to prevent a repeat of similar incidents

Afp November 25, 2015

a woman holds a placard reading quot bring turkey to account quot as she and others gather outside the turkish embassy in moscow on november 24 2015 nato member turkey shot down a russian war plane on the syrian border on november 24 an act president vladimir putin denounced as a quot stab in the back quot by quot accomplices of terrorists quot as tensions spiralled between two rival players in the syria war photo afp

A woman holds a placard reading "Bring Turkey to account" as she and others gather outside the Turkish embassy in Moscow on November 24, 2015. NATO member Turkey shot down a Russian war plane on the Syrian border on November 24, an act President Vladimir Putin denounced as a "stab in the back" by "accomplices of terrorists" as tensions spiralled between two rival players in the Syria war. PHOTO: AFP

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama on Tuesday agreed on the need to reduce tensions and prevent a repeat of similar incidents after Turkish forces shot down a Russian plane on the Syrian border for allegedly violating Turkish air space, the presidency said.

NATO calls ‘extraordinary meeting’ after Turkey downs Russian jet

"They were in accord on the importance of de-escalating tensions and making arrangements to prevent a repeat of such incidents," the Turkish presidency said in a statement following telephone talks between the two leaders.

The statement said that Obama had emphasised in the telephone talks that Turkey's right to defend its sovereignty was "supported by the United States and NATO".

Turkey shoots down Russian military plane on Syria border

They also expressed their commitment to a bringing about a transitional political process for peace in Syria and joint determination to continue the fight against Islamic State militants, the statement added.