ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan used a televised interview with CNN International on Thursday to respond to claims by Russia after a Russian warplane was downed by Turkish fighter jets after it violated Turkish airspace.
"It is not us who should apologize, but those who violated our airspace. Our pilots from the Armed Forces just performed their duties, which was a response to a breach of the rules of engagement. That's the essence of the incident," Erdogan told CNN International's Becky Anderson in capital Ankara.
His remarks came upon the recent diplomatic spat between Ankara and Moscow as two Turkish F-16s shot down the Russian warplane at the Turkish-Syrian border on Tuesday after repeatedly ignoring warnings that it was violating Turkish airspace.
Turkey already summoned the Russian envoy in Ankara on Friday over the bombing of Turkmen villages, demanding Moscow end the operation.
Erdogan said the incident saddened him as Turkey's bilateral relations with Russia are strategically important.
"We have a strategic partnership with the Russian Federation which is of great importance. We actually increased our bilateral trade volume up to $35 billion. In terms of oil and natural gas, we are a primary customer of Russia.
"And at the time when everyone is imposing sanctions on Russia in terms of food stock, we did not do so. We actually met a significant part of their food stock need but unfortunately despite our different approaches to the Syrian issue we would not have wanted this incident to take place," he said.
Erdogan refuted claims by Moscow saying Ankara deliberately brought the relations to a standstill.
"First of all there is no deliberate effort from our side to bring the relations to a standstill. I think these are emotional attitudes to the issue we have never had this kind of intention to bring the issue this kind of a point."
Asked about the Putin's accusation towards Turkey of "stabbing Russia in the back" and being "an accomplice of a terror", Erdogan said it would be a mistake for Russia to put such a blame.
"I don't know if he used the expression or not. If he is saying that we are cooperating with Daesh and that we are accomplices. I think that would be a huge mistake. We are doing the exact opposite. Russia is not engaged any fight against Daesh in Syria. On the contrary they are actually targeting moderate opposition. So calling Turkey an accomplice of terrorism would be the worst thing to do."
Erdogan also lashed out at the Russian claims that Turkey has oil interests with Daesh.
"Yesterday there was a declaration which was very unacceptable. Some claimed that we were buying oil from Daesh. The fact that people in positions of authority in Russia said this was very unacceptable."
"It is a horrific lack of respect. Those people who made this claim should prove it. No one can accuse us of buying oil from Daesh. These are smugglers. If any such thing is happening, we would put an end to this," he added.
Regarding the diplomatic spat, Erdogan was asked whether he expected his military allies in NATO to back Turkey's position.
"We are a NATO member and any action, aggression against Turkey would be considered equal to any aggression towards NATO or any other NATO member state. Therefore our cooperation with NATO is beyond any dispute or questioning. NATO will of course take the necessary steps."
Ankara requests private talk between Erdogan, Putin in Paris
Erdogan also confirmed Turkey's request to the Russian side to arrange tete-a-tete meeting with Putin during the UN Climate Change Summit that will kick off Monday in the French capital of Paris.
"We have made such a request, but there has been no response to my request yet. But our Foreign Ministry had contacts yesterday and President Hollande is going to talk to President Putin today [about this issue]," he said.
"We have a responsibility to keep calm."
Erdogan also spoke to FRANCE 24 Television on Thursday, reiterated that Turkish fighter jets on an aerial patrol intercepted an unidentified aircraft within engagement rules when it intruded into Turkish airspace close to the Syrian border.
The Turkish president recalled "similar incidents" back in October. Russian warplanes breached Turkish airspace twice in early October after which Russian officials apologized and pledged that no such incident would be repeated.
Erdogan said that he discussed the issue with Putin during the G20 summit in Antalya and shared concerns with him.
The Turkish president said Russia would not tolerate such a violation.
"No country could ever violate the rights of another country on the land, in the sea, or in the air. We have to be careful about it," Erdogan said.
Stating that Turkey has all the information about what exactly happened Tuesday, Erdogan said the information provided by Turkish authorities was also confirmed by other NATO members.
"I wonder if Putin or the related authorities also have that information [...] They should know it."
Pointing to Turkey's 911-km border with Syria, Erdogan said the country has also a vast airspace.
He stressed that Turkey does not want tensions with Russia, and said: "We share a top-level consultative council with Russia and our economic relations are so strong [...] We would not desire to see such an incident, but unfortunately it happened."
"We should definitely shake hands and continue [our relations] hand in hand," the Turkish president said. "We have a responsibility to keep calm."
In Tuesday's incident, the intruding Russian aircraft was warned about the violation 10 times within five minutes before it was shot down.
It crashed in the Syrian region of Bayirbucak close to Yayladagi district of Turkey's southern Hatay province.
NATO confirmed the accuracy of the radar trace data Turkey shared which clearly showed the Russian violation.
It was not the first time Russian fighter jets had violated Turkish airspace. In early October, Russian warplanes breached Turkish airspace.
Russian officials apologized and pledged that no such incident would be repeated. Turkey had also renewed its warning on engagement rules, including a military response against violations of Turkish airspace.
