The Russian Ambassador in Ankara has advanced “three conditions” for restoring relations with Turkey following the shooting down of an Su-24 fighter-bomber on the border with Syria, Turkish media reported on Monday.
The terms listed by Ambassador Andrei Karlov comprise Turkey's apology for downing the warplane, prosecution of those responsible, and payment of compensation to Russia, Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News newspaper reported.
“If our expectations are not met, Turkey's other [proposals] will not pay off,” Karlov was quoted as saying. “While Turkey [calls for] dialogue, it also makes statements that do not fit such an approach.”
Ankara maintains that the Russian bomber plane violated Turkish airspace and was shot down after repeated warnings. Moscow denies this, and President Vladimir Putin has called the Nov. 24 downing a “stab in the back by accomplices of terrorists.”
Russia announced various sanctions against Turkey, banning food imports from the country and travel packages to its resorts. Turkish citizens studying or working in Russia have reported being targeted by a major backlash.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu last week offered his country's “sorrow and condolences” over the downing of the warplane. But Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brushed off the remark, saying he has “heard nothing new at all,” the Interfax news agency reported at the time.
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