Supported by NATO, Turkey is refusing to apologize for shooting down a Russian fighter jet that it says violated its airspace near the Syrian-Turkey border.
“No country should ask us to apologize,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters following a meeting with NATO’s secretary general at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, according to Reuters.
“The protection of our land borders, our airspace, is not only a right, it is a duty.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Nov. 26 that he’s waiting for an apology. Turkey’s president tried to meet with Putin, but his Russian counterpart refused.
Davutoglu added that he’s ready to provide any information that Russia seeks on the situation.
“If the Russian side wants to talk, we are ready; if they want more information, we are ready; if they want to normalize relations, we are ready to talk,” he said.
He also said that Turkish officials “hope Russia will reconsider these measures in both our interests.”
Russia over the past few days has announced a series of measures against Turkey, including restrictions on migrant workers from there in Russia, and cancellations of charter flights and tour packages that include Turkey.
