CHP leader calls on government to press world

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Uncertainties should be eliminated in the jet incident, Kılıçdaroğlu says. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ

Citing contradictions between the Syrian and Turkish governments’ claims over the recent downing of a Turkish jet by Syria, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has called on the government to press the U.S., U.K and Russia to reveal all information they have about the incident.

Kılıçdaroğlu once again stressed that he trusts the information given by the Turkish government and officials, responding to questions from reporters during a party meeting yesterday. However, he also underlined that uncertainties should be eliminated using information from “three countries,” alluding to the U.S., U.K., and Russian bases around the region.

“Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu or Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] should call on Russia, the U.S. and the U.K. to reveal all information they have about our downed jet. If this can be achieved, the problem would be resolved. A result in accordance with the [Turkish] government’s explanation will strengthen Turkey’s international position,” Kılıçdaroğlu said. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the downed Turkish jet was flying over Syrian airspace, speaking in an interview with daily Cumhuriyet printed on June 3. Turkey, however, denies the Syria’s claims. The U.S. has an air base in İncirlik, a district of Turkey’s Mediterranean province of Adana. The U.K. has two military bases in southern Cyprus, and Russia has a military base in Tartus, on Syria’s Mediterranean coast.