Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu attends an annual meeting of High Military Council in Ankara, Turkey. (AP)
Ankara:
Turkey's prime minister says his country can't be "brought to its knees" by Russian economic sanctions imposed in response to Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane.
Ahmet Davutoglu speaking in Baku, Azerbaijan, today again defended Turkey's action and said Ankara would not apologize for "defending its borders."
Davutoglu again insisted Turkey did not know the nationality of the plane when it brought it down inside Turkish air space. Davutoglu suggested for the first time, however, that the plane was brought down because Turkey could not "morally" allow the plane to trespass on Turkish territory before bombing Turkmen areas in Syria
Turkey said it shot down the plane after it violated its airspace despite repeated warnings. Russia denies the claim and has since slapped economic sanctions on Turkey.
Ahmet Davutoglu speaking in Baku, Azerbaijan, today again defended Turkey's action and said Ankara would not apologize for "defending its borders."
Davutoglu again insisted Turkey did not know the nationality of the plane when it brought it down inside Turkish air space. Davutoglu suggested for the first time, however, that the plane was brought down because Turkey could not "morally" allow the plane to trespass on Turkish territory before bombing Turkmen areas in Syria
Turkey said it shot down the plane after it violated its airspace despite repeated warnings. Russia denies the claim and has since slapped economic sanctions on Turkey.
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