Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: Russia Should Not Play with Fire

Following the downing of a Russian plane by Turkey and the escalating tensions between the two countries, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, warned Russia on Friday, November 27, not to 'play with fire.' Erdoğan stated that it is a dangerous game to attack moderate opponents who have international legitimacy under the pretext of fighting ISIS (Islamic State) in Syria. The Turkish President referred to Russia's air operations against the opponents of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. According to Reuters, Erdoğan warned in his speech in Bayburt, a city in northeastern Turkey, that 'this game with fire has gone so far that our citizens who have gone to Russia have been mistreated.' The report mentions that several Turkish businessmen who traveled to Russia to participate in a trade exhibition have been detained, reportedly due to issues with their visas. Russia has also announced that visa-free travel for Turkish citizens to Russia will be suspended. Meanwhile, the Turkish President emphasized that Moscow and Ankara have important relations and that Turkey does not wish to harm these relations. Erdoğan also mentioned that he is likely to have a face-to-face conversation with Vladimir Putin at the upcoming climate change summit in Paris next week, although Putin has not been willing to talk to Erdoğan since the downing of the Russian plane. Erdoğan stated that Russia should apologize for violating Turkish airspace. In the meantime, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that starting January 1 of next year, the visa-free travel regulations for Turkish citizens to Russia will be suspended. According to Reuters, this action could severely damage Turkey's tourism industry. Additionally, Russia has increased control and oversight of agricultural imports from Turkey. Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 military aircraft early Tuesday, marking the first time in six decades that a NATO member has downed a Russian fighter jet. Russia has interpreted Turkey's action as a 'stab in the back' and has demanded an apology, while Turkey claims that the Russian reaction is 'emotional' and 'unbecoming of politicians.'