In his article, Davutoglu did not explain specifically how Turkey was going to “work with” Russian Federation; an escalating war of words has been ongoing between the two countries ever since the downing of the jet – which also led to the killing of one of its two pilots – and there is little indication that Moscow would be willing to engage with Ankara on the issue without a Turkish apology first. The statement cited increased difficulties Turkish travellers have been facing in Russian Federation against the backdrop of the shooting down incident.
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The Russian minister added that threats coming from Turkey were “not artificial”.
Defending the downing of the warplane on Tuesday, Erdogan said Turkey did not destroy it on goal, saying it was nothing but an automatic reaction to a border breach, an exercise of the rules of engagement.
President Vladimir Putin has also ordered the deployment of the long-range S-400 air defense missile systems to a Russian air base in Syria just 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the border with Turkey to help protect Russian warplanes, and the Russian military warned it would shoot down any aerial target that would pose a potential threat to its planes.
“I do not think we now have reasons to discuss our perception of the Turkish provocation against our jet”, the minister said.
Erdogan has nevertheless said he wanted a direct meeting with Putin when the two leaders are in Paris next week for the United Nations climate summit. “The Russian market is very important for Antalya”, he underlined, expressing that the losses due to cancellations of hotel reservations for winter tourism will be compensated once things go back to normal.
“This is the time to stand firm against Daesh”, Davotoglu said.
In comments which underscore how angry the Kremlin still is over the incident, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, called the behaviour of the Turkish air force “absolute madness” and said Ankara’s subsequent handling of the crisis had reminded him of the “theatre of the absurd”.
Turkey claims that the Russian airplane had violated Turkish airspace and was warned ten times before being downed by Turkish fighter jets.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed on Saturday a decree introducing a set of economic sanctions against Turkey.
Erdogan said Thursday in an interview with France 24 TV channel that he had tried to call Putin after the incident, but could not reach him.
Russian tourist agencies have stopped booking trips to Turkey following the ministry’s suggestions. A gas pipeline and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, in which Russian Federation and Turkey have jointly invested, could also be targeted, Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukaev said in a tweet.
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Some Russian tour operators have said they will be curtailing travel to Turkey, a top destination for Russian vacationers.
