RUSSIAN JET VIOLATED TURKISH AIRSPACE, US SAYS

US State Department spokeswoman, Elizabeth Trudeau

Washington, 18 Shfar 1437/1 Desember 2015 (MINA) – The US said Monday its sources, which it did not name, have indicated Russia did indeed violate Turkish airspace last week as one of its jets flew over the Turkey-Syria border.

Turkey shot that plane down, and the pilot was killed, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) quoted Kuna news as reporting.

State Department Spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said that while the Obama Administration backs Turkey’s right to defend itself, Moscow and Ankara must now focus on decreasing tensions.

“We need to encourage dialogue now and we need to de-escalate the situation … continued discussion between the two parties is what is important now,” she told reporters.

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Russian President V.V. Putin has signed a Decree ‘On Measures to Guarantee National Security in the Russian Federation and Protect Russian Citizens Against Criminal and Other Illegal Actions, and on Special Economic Measures Against the Turkish Republic.

The visa-free regime between the countries will be partially suspended after January 1, 2016. The measure does not concern Turkish nationals who have a temporary or permanent resident permit, as well as Turkish staff of diplomatic or consular missions in Russia and their families. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)