NATO denounces Russia for violating Turkish airspace



ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- In a signal of new tensions raised by Moscow's airstrikes in Syria,

NATO denounced Russia on Monday for "irresponsible behavior" after its warplanes violated

Turkish airspace, and Turkey warned that any future aerial intruder would be treated like

an enemy.

Turkey, a NATO member, mentioned only one Russian intrusion over the weekend, but the

military alliance said a second Russian jet also violated Turkish airspace Sunday.

The intrusions, which come amid deep suspicions and mutual distrust between Moscow and the

West over Russia's military action in Syria, highlight the potential for clashes between

Russian and allied forces in the increasingly crowded skies over Syria.

Russia sought to play down the incident. Defense Ministry spokesman Maj.-Gen. Igor

Konashenkov said the jet accidentally entered Turkish airspace for "several seconds"

Saturday while returning to its base about 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of the border

with Turkey. He said the violation happened due to poor weather in the area, which forced

the pilot to approach the base from the north.

Russia has taken measures "to prevent any such incidents in the future," he added. The

ministry said Russia had nothing to do with the second alleged incursion Sunday.

NATO called Russia's actions "irresponsible behavior," and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash

Carter said Washington is conferring with Turkish leaders about the airspace violation.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. was "quite concerned" by Russia's action,

describing it as a provocation.

"Given the stakes and sensitivity around the Russian military action in that region of the

world, I think our concerns are well-founded," Earnest said.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also expressed concern, telling reporters during a trip

to Chile that the incident could have led to Turkey shooting down the Russian plane, and

that Russia has a responsibility to act within international standards.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russian warplanes had committed "unacceptable

violations of Turkish airspace."

"Russia's actions are not contributing to the security and stability of the region. I call

on Russia to fully respect NATO airspace and to avoid escalating tensions with the

alliance," he said.

The Kremlin voiced hope that the incident wouldn't damage its friendly ties with Ankara.

"Bilateral relations with Turkey are quite comprehensive, and they are solidly based on

mutual benefits," President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that

Moscow was looking into the incursion.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Russia had said the plane intruded "by

mistake."

"They said they are respectful of Turkey's borders and that it would not happen again," he

told Haber Turk television.

But Davutoglu warned that Turkey would enforce its rules of engagement in case of

intrusions, which call for treating anyone approaching its border from Syria as an enemy.

"The Turkish armed forces have their orders," he said, saying it will take the necessary

steps "even if it's a bird that violates Turkey's border. ... Our rules of engagement are

clear."

A security meeting was called for Monday evening in Ankara, with Davutoglu chairing it.

Following urgent consultations Monday, NATO strongly protested the Russian intrusions and

noted "the extreme danger of such irresponsible behavior."

"The security of the alliance is indivisible, and allies stand in strong solidarity with

Turkey," the NATO statement said.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the Russian jet intruded Saturday near the town of

Yayladagi, in Hatay province. Two F-16 jets intercepted the aircraft and forced it to

return to Syrian airspace.

The Turkish military said a MiG-29 fighter of unknown origin had threatened two Turkish

planes Sunday by locking its radar on them for 5 minutes and 40 seconds. The military said

the incident occurred while 10 F-16s were patrolling the Turkish-Syrian border.

Konashenkov said the Russian air force doesn't operate any MiG-29s in Syria. The Syrian air

force reportedly has some MiG-29s.

NATO said Russian Su-30 and Su-24 aircraft violated Turkish airspace Saturday and Sunday in

the Hatay region.

"The aircraft in question entered Turkish airspace despite Turkish authorities' clear,

timely and repeated warnings," it said. "In accordance with NATO practice, Turkish fighter

aircraft responded to these incursions by closing to identify the intruder, after which the

Russian planes departed Turkish airspace."

NATO also strongly criticized the Russian air campaign in Syria that began Wednesday.

Russia says its airstrikes are directed against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS

and ISIL, as well as al-Qaida's Syrian affiliates. The U.S. and France say at least some of

the strikes appear to have hit Western-backed rebel factions fighting government troops,

with the real goal of protecting Syrian President Bashar Assad.

NATO said the alliance was calling on Russia "to immediately cease its attacks on the

Syrian opposition and civilians, to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL, and to promote a

solution to the conflict through a political transition."

Russia's Defense Ministry said its jets Monday flew 15 sorties and struck 10 targets,

including militants' field headquarters in Aleppo province and militants' headquarters in

Damascus province. It said they also destroyed about 20 tanks in the province of Homs and

30 other combat vehicles in Idlib province.

The Russian strikes in Syria have largely focused on the northwestern and central provinces

-- gateways to the heartland of Assad's power in the capital and on the Mediterranean

coast. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Tunisia that most of the Russian

airstrikes "do not target the Islamic State."

Turkey, which has strongly demanded that Assad step down since the Syrian conflict began in

March 2011, has voiced dismay about the Russian military action. On Sunday, President Recep

Tayyip Erdogan said the Russian airstrikes were unacceptable and a grave mistake that could

alienate Moscow in the region.

In Moscow, the head of defense affairs committee in the lower house of the Russian

parliament said Monday that some volunteers from Russia may join Assad's army.

"I'm sure a unit made up of Russian war veterans will emerge as part of the Syrian army,"

said retired Adm. Vladimir Komoyedov in remarks carried by Russian news agencies. "What

could attract them there other than ideology? Money, of course."

It wasn't immediately clear if Komoyedov was expressing his personal views or putting forth

an official view. Putin has firmly ruled out any involvement by Russian ground troops in

Syria.

Unlike airstrikes, ground combat would be certain to involve casualties and threaten

Putin's popularity by raising memories of the thousands of Soviet deaths in Afghanistan in

the decade that followed its intervention there in 1979.

Le Drian reaffirmed that a political settlement of the Syrian crisis can't be achieved with

Assad remaining in power, since he was responsible for the conflict.

"We're favorable to a political solution that would integrate the regime's elements that

would also integrate the Syrian opposition" who hit by Russian airstrikes, he said.

The United States is leading a coalition that is carrying out airstrikes in Syria, as well

as Iraq, against Islamic State militants. Russia maintains that its air campaign came at

the request of the Damascus government, unlike the coalition's military action.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the various air

campaigns in Syria create "a situation that is fraught with danger and very delicate, as

we'd seen in the issue of the violation of the airspace with Turkey."

"This should really refocus people's attention on finding a political solution," he said.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20151006p2g00m0in023000c.html









毎日英語新聞を読んでみました。



そういえば、トルコはNATO加盟国だったんでしたっけ？
EUの旗が・・・




Any future aerial intruder would be intrusion over the military alliance that violated deeply

the potential for clashes between Russian and allied forces in the increasingly.

it sought to play down the incident. Defense Ministry forced the pilot to approach the base

from the north.

"to prevent any such incidents in the future," The ministry said Russia had nothing to do

with the second alleged incursion Sunday.

Russian military action are well-founded ,telling reporters during a trip to Chile  telling

reporters during a trip to Chile that the incident could have led to NATO.

"unacceptable to avoid  the alliance"

The incident damages President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Davutoglu said Russia had said the plane intruded "by mistake."

It has ordered Our rules.
Our rules protested  intrusions and noted "The security of the alliance is indivisible, and allies stand in strong" in Hatay province fighter of unknown origin had occurred patrolling operate air force.

NATO said Su-30 and Su-24 aircraft violated in accordance with NATO to these incursions by closing to identify, the intruder The U.S. and France say at least , with the protecting  president .

NATO said the alliance was  attacks opposition  civilians , to focus and to promote a solution.

NATO said the alliance was calling on Russia "to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians, to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL, and to promote a solution to the conflict through a political transition."

It destroyed in Idlib province largely on the northwestern provinces.
It was the power in the Islamic State.

On Sunday,unacceptable in Moscow in the lower parliament said Monday is that some volunteers from Russia may join Assad's army.

It wasn't immediately personal views or putting any involvement.

Unlike popularity intervention Le Drian of the integrated opposition Damascus government, unlike Dujarric Dujarric for U.N is dangerous and very delicate.

Issue of the violation is people's attention on finding a political solution.

.