Turkey: No intention of war, but Syria’s downing of jet won’t go unpunished

“Whatever is needed to be done will definitely be done within the framework of international law. We have no intention of going to war with anyone. We have no such intent,” Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Ar?nç told a news conference Turkey after a seven-hour cabinet meeting on the incident.

Ar?nç, however, also underlined that Turkey will protect itself within international law and that Syria’s downing of jet will not go unpunished.

Ar?nç said Turkey won’t hesitate to take necessary steps within legitimate boundaries of international law, adding that Syria targeted “our solo-flying, unarmed plane with cold blood. International law stands by Turkey in the face of this hostile action.”

He also underlined that seeking a parliamentary motion for cross-border military operation is not currently on government’s agenda and that there is no need for that. “We can appeal to Parliament if needed,” he stressed.

Speaking about response to the downing of Turkish jet by Syria, the government spokesman said legitimate self-defense, proportionate retaliation and international sanctions are among steps Turkey may take against Syria.

“Everyone should know that we will do whatever the international law allows us to do” regarding downed Turkish jet.

He also rejected Syria’s account of the incident, saying that claims that Syria could not identify downed Turkish jet are baseless

Second plane hit by Syria

Turkish deputy prime minister also noted that Syrian forces have opened fire on a second Turkish plane that was searching for the wreckage of the jet earlier shot down by Syria.

Ar?nç said that Syrian forces opened fire on a CASA search and rescue plane following the downing of a RF-4E reconnaissance jet in international airspace on Friday. He did not say whether the search and rescue plane was hit.

Ref: todayszaman.com