Man taking responsibility for murder of downed Russian fighter pilot detained in Turkey

Police in Turkey’s Izmir have detained Alparslan Çelik, who took responsibility for the murder of the pilot of the Russian Su-24 fighter downed in Syria by the Turkish air force in November, Dogan news agency reported on Thursday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow is checking this information.

"We are now going to study this information. As soon as we get concrete data we’ll comment on them," Zakharova told TASS when asked to explain how the detention would affect Russian-Turkish relations.

• Russia’s position regarding Turkey unchanged

The position of Moscow regarding Turkey remains unchanged — the Turkish people is not an enemy, but there may be no justifications to Turkey’s attack on a Russian aircraft and statements that followed, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman went on to say.

Zakharova’s statement came as a comment on media claims that Moscow is allegedly softening its position.

"The crisis is of a temporary nature, I believe that our nations will get through it," she said. "But there may be no reconciliation with what has been done, and no justification to what keeps being said. Turkish officials had better not rebuild the words of Russian politicians to make out of them proposals they need."

"We have said many times — we do not consider the Turkish people and Turkey as enemies. We are neighbors, we are close peoples," Zakharova said. "Our two countries have an extensive and rich history. People deserve overcoming the crisis for bilateral relations."...
More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/866410
31/3/16
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