Erdogan says he wishes Russian plane hadn’t been shot down

Despite remorse, Turkish president defends his country’s action, criticizes Russia for its airstrikes in Syria

By Agencies 28 November 2015, 1:43 pm

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Turkish protesters walk over a burnt poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and reading 'Putin, killer!' during an anti-Russia demonstration in Istanbul, November 27, 2015. (AFP/Cagdas Erdogan)

ANKARA — Turkey’s president has told supporters that he was saddened by the downing of a Russian warplane by Turkish forces on Tuesday.

Addressing supporters on Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again defended Turkey’s action and criticized Russia for its action in Syria before expressing his regrets.

“We wish it hadn’t happened, but it happened. I hope something like this doesn’t happen again,” Erdogan said.

The president called for both sides to approach the issue in a more positive way, and said a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming UN climate change conference in Paris would be an opportunity to overcome tensions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on November 16, 2015. (Adem Altan/AFP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on November 16, 2015. (AFP/Adem Altan)

Earlier Saturday, Turkey issued a travel warning urging its nationals to delay non-urgent and unnecessary travel to Russia.

The Foreign Ministry in Ankara said it was issuing the warning as Turkish travelers were facing “problems” in Russia. It said Turks should delay travel plans until “the situation becomes clear.”

Turkey’s downing of the Russian military jet, the first time in half a century that a NATO member shot down a Russian plane, has drawn a harsh response from Moscow.

Russia has since restricted tourist travel, left Turkish trucks stranded at the border, confiscated large quantities of Turkish food imports and started preparing a raft of broader economic sanctions. Erdogan, meanwhile, on Friday warned Russia not to “play with fire.”

The angry exchange has not been limited to official channels.

In Crimea, a group of young people gathered Friday around a hay effigy with the face of Erdogan set up on the main square of Simferopol.

Activists in Moscow, belonging to a youth wing of the conservative Rodina party, put a life-size inflatable doll of the Turkish leader in a coffin and delivered it to the Turkish embassy.

Pictures on the group’s website also showed the activists laying several funeral wreaths with ribbons saying “From Russian patriots to US puppets” outside the embassy.

Police detained two organizers, but the group said they were let go when law enforcement discovered they were municipal lawmakers.