Erdo?an repeats his call to Putin to meet in Paris

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has repeated his call to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a face-to-face meeting in Paris on the sidelines of the Global Climate Summit to talk and to resolve ongoing bilateral crisis after a Russian warplane was downed by Turkey on Nov 24.

"What we tell Russia is 'Let's talk about this issue within its boundaries and let's settle it. Let's not make others happy by hurting our all relationship. I think the UN Global Climate Change Summit to be held in Paris on Monday could be an opportunity to restore our relations," Erdo?an said on Nov 28 in a statement during his visit to Bal?kesir.

Erdo?an said a meeting to be held in Paris would be a good way to talk about the issue and to solve it.

Turkey has already proposed to hold a presidential meeting in Paris but Moscow refused it because Turkey did not accept to apologize for the downing of its jetfighter. Turkey expressed its sorrow but refused to apologize as it was Russia's duty to do so as it was its warplane that violated the Turkish airspace.

There is not much chance for a meeting in Paris but there is a bigger opportunity to let two foreign ministers to meet in Belgrade on Dec 4 on the sidelines of the OSCE's ministerial meeting. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be in Belgrade for the summit along with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Turkey tried to de-escalate tension by softening its language but Russia's strong accusations against Turkey make the situation more complicated for an immediate reconciliation.

"We particularly want all parties to approach to the matter in a much more positive way," Erdo?an said, expressing his concerns that further escalation of the...