Turkey Won’t Apologize to Russia Over Warplane Downing

Turkey won’t apologize to Russia for shooting down a warplane operating over Syria, the Turkish prime minister said Monday, Nov. 30, stressing that the military was doing its job defending the country’s airspace.

Members of new Turkish cabinet Deputy Prime Minister Yalçn Akdogan (L), Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (R) and Deputy Prime Minister Numar Kurtulmus (C) talks during a session of the Turkish Parliament in Ankara on Nov. 30, 2015. Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images

Turkey won’t apologize to Russia for shooting down a warplane operating over Syria, the Turkish prime minister said Monday, Nov. 30, stressing that the military was doing its job defending the country’s airspace.

Ahmet Davutoglu also said Turkey hopes Moscow will reconsider economic sanctions announced against Turkish interests following the incident. The Turkish resort town of Antalya is “like a second home” to many Russian holidaymakers, he said, but refused to yield on Turkish security.

“No Turkish prime minister or president will apologize ... because of doing our duty,” Davutoglu told reporters after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

No Turkish prime minister or president will apologize ... because of doing our duty.

— Ahmet Davutoglu, prime minister, Turkey