Obama urges Turkey and Russia to reduce tensions

[webfact]

Obama urges Turkey and Russia to reduce tensions



PARIS: -- A week after Turkey downed a Russian warplane, President Barack Obama has reiterated US support for its NATO ally.

“The United States supports Turkey’s right to defend itself and its airspace and its territory,” he said.

But meeting his Turkish counterpart at climate talks in Paris on Tuesday, Obama also urged the two countries to end their war of words and focus on defeating the common enemy ISIL and bringing about a political resolution in Syria.

Despite the heated exchanges of late, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s preferred option now seems to be de-escalation.

He told reporters he wanted a diplomatic resolution that could contribute to peace.

“The tensions in the region sadden us. It is causing harm to both sides,” Erdogan said.

But as he spoke Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s government was ratifying a raft of economic sanctions against Turkey over the downing of the plane on the Syrian border which left two Russians dead – the pilot and a marine killed in a rescue attempt.

Angry protests have taken place outside the Turkish Embassy in Moscow.

Like President Vladimir Putin, Russian demonstrators reject Turkey’s claims that the warplane had entered its airspace.

Putin claims Turkey shot down the jet because it wanted to protect supplies of oil from ISIL militants.

Erdogan says claims that Turkey buys oil from ISIL are “slander”.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-12-02

[jaidam]

The Russian bomber's Black Box data was examined in Syria.

It has revealed that the Russian airplane did not enter the Turkish airspace.

At the nearest point the Russian airplane stayed in Syrian airspace at the distance of 1 kilometer from the Turkish border.

America knows about this and prefers to keep low profile.

If this proves true, it will be a good excuse to boot Turkey out of NATO. I wish Obama was apologizing to Russia for supporting the Turkish aggression, rather than ramping up the tension with his loaded comments. As far as I'm concerned Turkey and the ISIS are one and the same. Everyone that allahu akbars upon witnessing unwarranted mayhem and destruction on westerners are as bad as each other.

[MaxYakov]

Sure, they should relax. Obama and Hollande recommend leisurely haute cuisine in Paris:

Buying some carbon credits beforehand would be a definite plus in assuaging any guilt.

[craigt3365]

The Russian bomber's Black Box data was examined in Syria.

It has revealed that the Russian airplane did not enter the Turkish airspace.

At the nearest point the Russian airplane stayed in Syrian airspace at the distance of 1 kilometer from the Turkish border.

America knows about this and prefers to keep low profile.

Where was this reported? The evidence so far points to the plane being in Syrian airspace. But only for a very short time.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-confirms-downed-russian-plane-entered-turkish-airspace-n471481

[Morch]

The Russian bomber's Black Box data was examined in Syria.

It has revealed that the Russian airplane did not enter the Turkish airspace.

At the nearest point the Russian airplane stayed in Syrian airspace at the distance of 1 kilometer from the Turkish border.

America knows about this and prefers to keep low profile.

Where was this reported? The evidence so far points to the plane being in Syrian airspace. But only for a very short time.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-s-confirms-downed-russian-plane-entered-turkish-airspace-n471481

What evidence do you mean?

There is no evidence to prove the fact that the Russian plane entered the Turkish airspace.

If you mean the Turkish audio recording:

•We don't know when this particular audio recording was made. It might have been made several weeks before the recent incident, or even months or years before.

•We don't know exactly what airplane this particular warning was given to. It might have been given to any other airplane that was approaching the Turkish airspace.

•Even if we assume that this warning was given to the same Russian plane that was shot down, there is no evidence that this warning was received clearly (without radio interference) by the pilot.

•Even if we assume that this warning was given to the same Russian plane that was shot down, there is no evidence that it was given 10 times as Turkey is claiming.

•Even if we assume that this warning was given to the same Russian plane that was shot down and if we assume that it was received clearly by the pilot, there is no evidence that the airplane indeed entered the Turkish airspace. Normally such warnings are given on a daily basis to every airplane that is approaching the foreign airspace, even at the distance of 10 kilometers or more. This warning can not prove the fact that the airplane did in fact enter the foreign airspace.

Well you haven't even supplied a link to support the original post, kinda hard to take it seriously. But then again, who would doubt the word of Russia or Syria on this matter. eh? Not like they got vested interests. right?

Other than taking supposed Russian statements and findings at face value, let me propose that the it might also indicate that Made in Russia gear is not always that reliable or accurate. Yes, despite the notions some members have regarding the supposed superiority of their military technology.

The Russian aircraft was surely monitored by at least 5 countries (perhaps 6). There are pretty solid relevant USA and NATO assets in the area, and no doubt this applies to monitoring communications as well. Not standard procedure for most countries to expose such information to potential rivals.

A lot of "if we assume", and very little by way of providing anything to the contrary.

[craigt3365]

The US has equipment in the area that tracks ALL aircraft. They tracked this plane into Turkish airspace AND tracked where it was hit....Syria. Russia lied about troops not being in Crimea, then Western Ukraine. They've got no credibility now.

Russia messed up, Turkey acted too aggressively. Time to calm down and focus on ISIS. Oh, forgot, that's not Russia's main priority.