Turkish Today’s Zaman daily writes that Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has called on Turkey to announce that there were no weapons on the Syrian plane heading from Moscow to Damascus that was forced to land in Ankara by Turkey on suspicions of carrying non-civilian cargo earlier this month.
Lavrov also said that Turkish officials had delivered contradictory information on the issue.
“We demand information from our Turkish counterparts over the details of the issue. They say electronics, technical equipment was found there (on the plane). In this regard we expect from them to declare that there were no weapons or ammunition on the intercepted plane” said Lavrov adding “urkish side rejected the pilot’s request for a copy of the documents the Turkish side prepared on what it had confiscated from the plane’s cargo and it raises concerns for the Russian side”.
Note, Turkish jets in early October forced a Syrian passenger plane to land at an airport in Ankara on suspicions that it was carrying weapons, and officials seized military communication equipment and parts that could be used in missiles.
Turkish officials said the plane may have been carrying “certain equipment in breach of civil aviation rules.”
Lavrov noted that the plane was legally carrying Russian radar parts for Syria when Turkey forced it to land in Ankara.
He insisted the shipment of “electric equipment for radars” was legitimate cargo that complied with international law, but added that it was of “dual purpose,” meaning it could have civilian and military applications.
“It’s not forbidden by any international conventions,” Lavrov had said at the time.
