Turkey ‘ready to hear’ Russian military officials’ explanations for air incursions

ANKARA

DHA Photo

Turkish military officials are “ready to meet” with their Russian counterparts to get “explanations” for recent violations of Turkish airspace and to find what kind of measures they will take to prevent further breaches, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said on Oct. 7.

The Foreign Ministry “invited” the Russian ambassador in Ankara on Oct. 6 and lodged the proposal, according to a written statement from Bilgiç. 

The ministry conveyed that Turkish military officials were ready to listen Russian military officials in Ankara to “hear their explanations about violations and the measures they are taking to prevent a repeat of similar incidents,” said the spokesperson. 

Bilgiç also said a “working group” between Ankara and Moscow on the issue was not on the agenda of talks either between military authorities or in the Foreign Ministry. 

A Russian Defense Ministry official had earlier claimed that Turkey’s Defense Ministry suggested to Russia on Oct. 6 that the two sides should consider creating a joint working group to coordinate actions related to Russia’s air strikes in Syria.