Turkey refuses to apologize for downing Russian jet

Turkey will not apologize for downing a Russian fighter jet along the Syrian border but urges Moscow to reconsider retaliatory sanctions in the hope of calming the crisis, Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu says.

“Protection of our airspace, our border is not only a right but a duty for my government and no Turkish premier or president… will apologize (for) doing our duty,” Davutoglu tells a joint press conference with NATO head Jens Stoltenberg after talks in Brussels.

Davutoglu adds that “we hope Russia will reconsider these measures in both our interests,” referring to the sanctions that Moscow imposed after the shooting down of the jet earlier this month.

— AFP