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Wednesday 25 Nov 2015 - 10:43 Makkah mean time-13-2-1437
Ankara, (IINA) - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended on Tuesday the shooting down of a Russian warplane by Turkish jets, Anadolu Agency reported.
“Everybody should respect Turkey’s right to protect its own borders”, said Erdogan, addressing a group of educators in the Turkish capital Ankara as the country celebrates Teachers' Day.
“This incident happened within the framework of the rules of engagement that Turkey had already announced”, Erdogan said. “No one should have any doubt that we have done our best to avoid this incident”.
A Russian warplane was shot down at the Turkish-Syrian border after repeatedly ignoring warnings that it was violating Turkish airspace.
In a related context, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "This tragic event will bear serious consequences for Turkish-Russian relations".
Putin alleged that Russian warplanes had been launching an operation against ISIS militants who were located north of Latakia.
Erdogan noted that Turkey is supporting opposition groups in Syria, pointing out that the region where Bayirbucak Turkmen live is not an area where ISIS is present.
Syrian regime forces, backed by Russian air forces, conducted a ground offensive on the predominantly Turkmen villages in the Bayirbucak area in the northwestern Latakia province last Friday.
AG/IINA
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