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MOSCOW: Russia warned on Sunday Turkey to stop staging what it called provocations against its forces in or near Syria after one of its warships fired warning shots at a Turkish vessel in the Aegean to avoid a collision.
The Russian Defence Ministry said one of its warships, the destroyer Smetlivy, had been forced to fire the warning shots on Sunday morning and that it had summoned the Turkish military attache over the incident.
“The Turkish military diplomat was given a tough explanation about the potentially disastrous consequences from Ankara’s reckless actions towards Russia’s military contingent fighting against international terrorism in Syria,” the defence ministry said in a statement.
Action termed a warning over Turkey’s ‘provocations near Syria’
“In particular, our deep concerns about more Turkish provocations towards the Russian destroyer Smetlivy were conveyed.”
Take a look: Russia, Turkey refuse to back down over warplane downing
Earlier on Sunday, the ministry said that a Turkish fishing vessel failed to respond to Smetlivy’s warnings and changed course sharply only after shots were fired before passing within just over 500 metres of the warship.
“Only by luck was tragedy avoided,” the ministry said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was in Rome for talks on Libya, said Ankara was investigating the matter and would make a statement once it had more information.
He also reiterated Turkey’s position that it wanted to resolve its difficulties with Russia.
“We want to solve the tension with dialogue,” he said, in comments broadcast by TRT Turk.
The incident is likely to heighten tensions between the two nations who are seriously at odds over Syria and the Turkish shooting down of a Russian military jet last month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called the downing of the plane a “stab in the back”, has since imposed economic sanctions on Turkey as a retaliatory measure.
Earlier this month, Turkey complained to Russia over an incident in which a Russian sailor was pictured brandishing a rocket launcher on the deck of a naval ship passing through Istanbul.
In a related development, the Turkish army has banned personnel from taking holidays in Russia, state-run media said on Sunday.
The prohibition, which applies to both personnel and military academy students, was described as a “precautionary measure after the Russian warplane, which violated (Turkey’s) borders, was downed in accordance with the rules of engagement,” Anatolia news agency said.
Army personnel are expected to behave in a way that is “worthy” of the Turkish military while on vacation, Anatolia added.
Turkey says the Su-24 plane repeatedly violated its airspace but Moscow insists it never strayed from Syria.
Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2015
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Comments (53) Closed
Dec 14, 2015 07:58am
Not sure what Turkey wants or is it that it is acting as a proxy of NATO to provoke Russia?
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Dec 14, 2015 08:08am
@AXH correct
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Dec 14, 2015 08:09am
@AXH
yes Turkey is doing the same mistake what Pakistan did in 2001.
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Dec 14, 2015 08:16am
I was Nato, turkey ,i won't even bother with russia let them do whatever they want in syria, but russia should take all refugees and west must not.
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Dec 14, 2015 08:26am
Let's read the news carefully. The Turkish ship is a fishing vessel. The Russian ship is an armed destroyer. Who is intimidating whom?
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Dec 14, 2015 08:31am
Turkey should know its limits. The west has rejected it many times i.e joining the EU. It has only symbolic value. NATO is a christian club and they will not stand by the Turks if the situation escalates with Russia.
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Dec 14, 2015 08:39am
As much as I love turkey and it's people.... they need to come to their senses....it isn't Greece they messing with.... it is Russia and Putin. Putin knows to be loyal to the ones loyal to him.... and he will not abandon asad...and neither will Iran and hisballah....
On the other hand turkey is the largest contributer to NATO as far as conventional forces are concerned... however I will bet anything that if there is a war between Russia and Turkey.... the NATO will stay out and US president will ask it's largest European ally to sort it out with Russia on its own...... so here is my advice to Turkey..... dont play with fire..... US will not come to ur rescue.....and neither will the Arabs....and i know Arabs well enough...I know there history of last 500 years.
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Dec 14, 2015 08:45am
Turkey needs to be taught a quick lesson.
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Dec 14, 2015 08:56am
So a state of the art naval destroyer was defending it self from a fishing vessel !
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Dec 14, 2015 08:58am
@Joe FL Yes you are correct but each ship has to keep a safe distance. As the US has learned in the past "fishing" vessels are at times used as terrorist boats that blow up killing scores. So to answer your question, since the Turkish vessel failed to respond to the warnings, Turkey is the intimidator and unlike Turkey that just blew up a Russian plane, Russia responded correctly by not blowing up the vessel but rather firing a warning shot.
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Dec 14, 2015 09:14am
Fishing destroyer vs Human destroyer! Luckily avoided war with each other, according to Russia. LOL. Russia forgot lesson from Afghanistan so soon.
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Dec 14, 2015 09:16am
@AXH probably u right
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Dec 14, 2015 09:18am
@Joe FL PLZ remember turkeys STAB AT BACK
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Dec 14, 2015 09:19am
@Joe FL as per rule no vessel can go near to destroyer. What if fishing boat is loaded with rdx or similar kind of stuff??
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Dec 14, 2015 09:27am
Turkey is playing dangerous game in the region.
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Dec 14, 2015 09:27am
@El Cid So a state of the art naval destroyer was defending it self from a fishing vessel !
remember the US warship destroyed by fishing vessel killing 20 us marines in a Yemeni port by crashing into it laden with explosive
what if this so called fishing boat was also laden with explosive on a sucide mission, all it has to do is crash in the warship and denote the explosive, it came within 500 metres of the ship
leave military matter to professional think before commenting
if it was an American ship and say Syrian fishing boat they would have sunk the fishing boat
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Dec 14, 2015 10:07am
For God sake not another war. If the war flares up everything will get engulfed.
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Dec 14, 2015 10:12am
Turkey is a neighbor of Syria and it is effected by the events in that country. What is Russia doing there?
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Dec 14, 2015 10:14am
For the people saying it was just a fishing boat: Did you forget USS Cole? Or did you forget how Iraqis and Afghans civilians were smoked when they went near to any NATO check post
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Dec 14, 2015 10:16am
@Joe FL
Why would that "Fishing vessel" come so close to that destroyer, not paying heed to its presence???
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Dec 14, 2015 10:18am
@Ali but we manuvouered out of it. Turkey is in the cross hair of Russia. Russians are itching to bring their boat down with a few dead , as retribution.
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Dec 14, 2015 10:24am
@El Cid It defended itself from a possible collision or a surprise attack.
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Dec 14, 2015 10:54am
Russians seems to be still not buried the wound of their air craft shot down by Turkey. Russia is alien to that region and unwanted character involve in this conflict. Firing at Turkish Fishing vessel show Russians anger.
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Dec 14, 2015 11:08am
@Joe FL , Who knows what was in that fishing vessel and what they planned to do? If careless, even a small match stick can destroy a whole building.
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Dec 14, 2015 11:32am
Russia's Patience is being tested, clearly!
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Dec 14, 2015 11:33am
Turkey going too far for the west.
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Dec 14, 2015 12:02pm
Turkey is acting on behalf of NATO, but sadly at the end it is standing on the losing side.
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Dec 14, 2015 12:24pm
@Tariq Same what US, UK, France and GCC countries are doing there
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Dec 14, 2015 12:28pm
Russia with a corrupt regime is trying to protect a correct Syrian regime.
Turkey has to protect its sovereignty.
Russia is trying to get the old super power status that is impossible.
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Dec 14, 2015 01:37pm
Next time just sink any vessel that posses threat to Russian warships.
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Dec 14, 2015 01:45pm
Turkey is playing with fire. On one hand it's acting as a front for NATO in the Arab world, on the other it has links with ISIS who sell oil to Turkey from the captured oil fields at less than half the international market price to run their movement. Russia has become a stumbling block as regards the inflow of oil is concerned as Russians have constantly targeted the supply lines. As regards US, it has given a kind of free hand to Turkey as its obsessed with Assad regime who doesn't toe their line, and Turkey is a swear enemy of Assad and will do everything to dethrone him. As long as NATO gives free hand to Turkey you can expect further anarchy in the region.
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Dec 14, 2015 01:53pm
@Asad Khan The Turkish nation does not need a lesson from anyone, Russians are the trouble makers .
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Dec 14, 2015 02:51pm
wow! both countries are fighting against their common enemy and yet are frightening each other.
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Dec 14, 2015 03:13pm
It's a fishing vessel government wouldn't be involved in it it's more Russia trying to show they could do the same
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Dec 14, 2015 03:14pm
@SBK So firing a fishing vessel is legitimate but shooting down a warplane is "stab in the back".
I would humbly suggest my fellow-countrymen, "better remain quite if you are unable to comprehend the matter correctly"
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Dec 14, 2015 03:14pm
Turkey and other regional powers have started and adding fuel to a jungle fire, hoping to burn homes of their enemies and later extinguish the fire before it reaches their homes. Will they be successful ?
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Dec 14, 2015 03:15pm
@MS Russians as winners are more dangerous to ME and South East then US, Europe and rest of the World.
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Dec 14, 2015 03:54pm
@haris , There is difference Mr.haris, Turkey fired and brought down the Russian Plane; but, Russian ship did not destroy the fishing vessel and it only fired harmless warning shot to warn the vessel not to come very near
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Dec 14, 2015 04:05pm
@SBK so where do you find Turkey "stabbing Russia in the back". A military vessel warned a fishing vessel not to come close to it. That's it.
Moreover, Turkey has warned the Russian warplane several times but the pilot ignored the warnings and eventually Turkish forces shot it down.
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Dec 14, 2015 04:10pm
@haris Your support for US is quite visible from your comments kindly let us know with historical reference how Russia is dangerous for ME than US, whereas history tells us differently US has destroyed Iraq, Syria, Libya and above all supporting most regressive regime Israel in ME whereas there is no such history with regard to Russia
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Dec 14, 2015 04:21pm
@haris , Are you a Turkish? Turkey was upset that Russia is going to the support of Syrian Government. So, it showed its anger by shooting down the Russian warplane in the Syrian air space, not in Turkey air space; and moreover without any warning. so is it not a "stabbing Russia in the back"
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Dec 14, 2015 04:21pm
@Muhammad You are over-judgmental as like many of my fellow citizens. And I am surprise to read that you need a historical reference how much dangerous Russia would be?
didn't you heard of Afghan incursion and lately didn't you see what has happened in Ukraine. a country which has co-hosted Football mega event - Euro cup is now teared apart completely.
Moreover, if US is malice then Russia is a venom. Don't get carried away with the events lately, Russia too is not faithful with the ME and mainly Muslim World. The only ply here is Asaad regime.
you have to think and analyze what Assad has offered to Russia that it came allover the Aegean Sea in support of him?
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Dec 14, 2015 04:56pm
Turkey does not deserve nato membership
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Dec 14, 2015 05:08pm
Quite astonishing that Turkey is taking on Russia who still is a formidable military power, a nuke power, on the presumption that NATO/America will back Turkey in case of conflict. Turkey is a Islamic country, an odd addition to the pure mainland European military alliance. It will be a fatal mistake to assume that the Europeans and Americans will put their neck in firing line to side with Turkey in conflict with Russia. Look what happened to Ukraine and its is not even an Islamic country.
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Dec 14, 2015 05:14pm
@haris And what about US military bases in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain ? and as regards, Russian aggression in Afghanistan kindly read "Charlies War" and you will definitely learn that how US created crises in Afghanistan and drag USSR in the Afghanistan and used "Jihadists" from all over the world to defeat USSR and destroyed the peaceful Afghanistan I myself witnessed the whole Afghan episode last but not least Ukraine is a direct neighbor of Russia and totally dependent on Russia especially for its energy requirement and here also US interfered and created fake revolution and dislodged elected President of Ukraine who was an ally of Russia in order to disturb the neighborhood of Russia kindly read history in totality then comment on any subject
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Dec 14, 2015 05:26pm
Next time it should be a direct hit from the Russian ship. Enough of Turkey's messing around with a superior power. Wake up Ordogan before it is too late.
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Dec 14, 2015 05:36pm
@Muhammad Witnessing through the eye of media is one thing while learning from colleagues and friends from the same region is another. I have many colleagues who actually belongs to Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. They are fed up with Russian adventures and interventions. And as per their counts the life of ordinary men in Russia Federation is getting more and more miserable. Apart from Oil and Gas sector the entire industrial foundation is in tatters.
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Dec 14, 2015 05:46pm
@Muhammad All i m trying to say, US hasn't done anything good for the World, so is Russians. Ask any citizen of former USSR other than Russia itself. And Muslims inside Russia are at worst.
Don't carried away with recent jibe from Russians towards IS. They wouldn't bring any prosperity to Syria or Iraq. They have their agenda and prosperous and peaceful ME is not in it. US is a pain and so do Russia. They are just filling the space left behind US and their Western allies. For us, the end-result would be equally miserable if not the worst.
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Dec 14, 2015 06:17pm
Over the centuries, Russia and Turkey have been to war a number of times, and in almost all the instances, Russia won the battle.
It was very rash act on the part of Turkey to shoot that plane down.
The mess in Syria is getting murkier, and the human cost has been colossal.
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Dec 14, 2015 07:13pm
@ROHIT PANDEY Thanks for your comment. If Pakistani jets violates your air space then don't make any rash attempt as Turkey did otherwise, our ties would get even murkier.
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Dec 14, 2015 07:35pm
Turkey must respect national the legitimate government of Syria instead of supporting the so called rebel they are terrorist support by West for their vested interest. Its in Turkey interest to have good neighbourly relationship with Bashar- ul-Asad otherwise Turkey has to pay a big price if this war spills into Turkey.
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Dec 14, 2015 07:36pm
@haris "the life of ordinary men in Russia Federation is getting more and more miserable. Apart from Oil and Gas sector the entire industrial foundation is in tatters" Now you have changed the topic we were comparing the US and Russian accesses / aggression and killing and destroying the whole nations on false allegations, which US did in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan before that Vietnam, Cambodia, Korea, Japan and so on now you are talking about standard of living in Russian federation which was not our topic
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Dec 16, 2015 09:11am
@haris Facts:
1. Putin attended the inauguration ceremony of the biggest Mosque that was just built in Moscow
2. Putin has created a law in Russia stating that all religious texts are sacred and that they DO NOT promote violence so they should be protected (this includes the Qur'an)
3. Putin has ALWAYS in every press statement said that Islam is not bad and these terrorists have nothing to do with Islam
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