Turkish PM Seeks to Ease Tensions With Russia

 

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, second from left, flanked by the country's top generals, leaves a wreath-laying ceremony at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara, Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sought to ease tensions with Russia after Ankara shot down a Russian plane near the Turkey-Syrian border earlier this week.
In an opinion piece published in Britain's The Times newspaper Friday, Davutoglu said, "While the measures to defend our territory will remain in place, Turkey will work with Russia and our allies to calm tensions."
He said fighting the Islamic State group is the top priority.
Russia reacted angrily after Turkish fighter jets shot down the warplane Tuesday, threatening ties between two countries on opposite sides in the Syrian war and raising fears of a wider international conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the downing of the plane was an act of betrayal by a country Russia had thought of as a friendly state. He also said the United States knew the jet's flight path and should have informed Turkey, its NATO ally.
Turkey said it issued repeated warnings that the plane was in its airspace before shooting it down. Russia, which has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria since September, said the jet did not cross into Turkey.
The plane crashed into a mountainside in a rebel-held area in Syria.
Both pilots parachuted out of the burning aircraft after it was struck, but one was found dead in Syria while the second was found safe and unhurt. A Russian soldier was killed in a rescue operation.