Turkey expects no retaliation after shooting Syrian helicopter

ANKARA

Turkey is ready for any kind of possibility, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu replied when asked whether they expected any retaliation from Syria. AA photo

Underlining that a Syrian military helicopter shot down by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) on Sept. 16 had violated the Turkish air space on purpose, not “mistakenly” as claimed by the Syrian military, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Sept. 17 that they expected no retaliation from the Syrian regime.

Davutoğlu, speaking in an interview with A Haber television channel, however, also declared his country’s readiness in case of a new threat against its security and national interests.

Turkey is ready for any kind of possibility, Davutoğlu replied when asked whether they expected any retaliation from Syria.

“Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces are both instructed and prepared in such a way as to be capable of responding in an instant to all kinds of violations against the security of our country and borders. In that regard, in order to protect our security and national interests, we are prepared for all kinds of developments that may take place from now on in regard to all scenarios. However, we are not expecting any retaliation,” Davutoğlu added.

The Turkish minister was reminded of the Syrian army’s statement in which it blamed the Turkish side for showing “a hasty reaction.”

“A comment such as ‘hastiness’ is actually an acknowledgement of the crime,” Davutoğlu said, reiterating that such a statement itself exposed that the Syrian side committed a border violation.