Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday warned that Ankara would activate military rules of engagement irrespective of who violates its air space.
“Our rules of engagement are clear whoever violates our air space,” Davutoglu told Haber-Turk television in an interview after Turkish jets intercepted a Russian fighter which violated Turkish air space near the Syrian border.
“The Turkish Armed Forces are clearly instructed. Even it is a flying bird it will be intercepted,” he added.
Davutoglu warned Turkey’s enemies and allies not to infringe its air space but he dismissed the notion of tensions with Russia.
“The Syrian issue is not a Turkey-Russia crisis,” he said.
“Our channels with Russia remain open,” he said hoping that Moscow would give up on “wrong attitudes.”
Foreign Minister Feridun Sinirlioglu contacted his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, warning him not to repeat similar incidents.
Turkey and Russia remain on opposing sides of the Syrian conflict, with Moscow one of the few allies of President Bashar Assad while Ankara backs a solution excluding the embattled leader.
Davutoglu on Monday said it was better to focus on political transition formulas rather than standing by a “dictator who oppresses its people.”
Agencies
