Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree for sanctions against
Turkey on Saturday, days after a Russian warplane was shot down in
Turkey. Turkish Presdient Tayyip Erdogan expressed regret over the
warplane incident earlier on Saturday, saying:
"We are truly saddened by this incident," Erdogan said. "We wish it hadn't happened as such, but unfortunately such a thing has happened. I hope that something like this doesn't occur again."
However, Putin wasn't moved by Erdogan's regret, instead he put an end
to chartered flights from Russia to Turkey, a ban on some goods and bars
extensions of labor contracts for Turks working in Russia,he didn't
specify what goods are to be banned or give other details and a ban on
Russian tourist companies’ vacation packages that include a stay in
Turkey.
Putin's decree also calls for ending visa-free travel between Russia and
Turkey and orders the tightening of control over Turkish air carriers
in Russia "for security reasons." The decree was issued "to protect
Russian citizens from crimes," a Kremlin statement said.
Putin calls what Turkey did as a stab in the back.
Meanwhile, addressing supporters in the western city of Balikesir,
Erdogan said neither country should allow the incident to escalate and
take a destructive form that would lead to "saddening consequences."
He renewed a call for a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of a climate
conference in Paris next week, saying it would be an opportunity to
overcome tensions.
Erdogan's friendly overture however, came after he again vigorously
defended Turkey's action and criticized Russia for its operations in
Syria.
"If we allow our sovereign rights to be violated ... then the territory would no longer be our territory," Erdogan said.On Saturday Turkey issued a travel warning urging its nationals to delay non-urgent and unnecessary travel to Russia, saying Turkish travelers were facing "problems" in the country. It said Turks should delay travel plans until "the situation becomes clear."
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