Claiming airspace violation, Turkey warns Russia

Associated Press

ANKARA, TURKEY

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Moscow on Saturday that it would be forced to “endure the consequences” if its jets continue to violate Turkish airspace, after Ankara reported a new border infringement incident by a Russian plane.

NATO-member Turkey said another Russian warplane violated its airspace on Friday despite several warnings – two months after Turkey’s military shot down a Russian jet for crossing over its territory. The past incident seriously strained the previously close ties between the two countries, damaging a strong economic partnership.

“We regard this infringement which came despite all our warnings in Russian and in English as an effort by Russia to escalate the crisis in the region,” Erdogan told reporters before departing on a Latin American tour. “If Russia continues the violations of Turkey’s sovereign rights, it will be forced to endure the consequences.”

He did not specify what those consequences might be.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, denied that there was any violation of Turkey’s airspace and called the Turkish statements “unsubstantiated propaganda.” His statement was carried by state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti.

Erdogan said he attempted to reach Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the issue but that the Russian leader did not respond.