Russian PM: Moscow might give up a number of important joint projects with Turkey due to Su-24 downing

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev announced on Nov. 25 that Turkey’s actions to down the Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 plane in Syria were criminal. The prime minister commented to reporters on the events on arrival in Yekaterinburg, after a many-day tour of Southeast Asia. “Armenpress” reports the aforementioned citing TASS.

“The recklessly criminal actions of the Turkish authorities that downed Russia’s aircraft have three consequences," he said. "First —it’s the dangerous worsening of relations between Russia and NATO, which cannot be justified by any interests, including protection of the state borders. Second —Turkey has demonstrated by its actions, in fact, the protection of the militants of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. That is not surprising, taking into account the available information about the direct financial interest of some Turkish officials linked with the supply of petroleum products produced at enterprises held by IS."

"And third, the longstanding good-neighborly relations between Russia and Turkey, including in the economy and humanitarian spheres have been undermined," Medvedev said. "This damage will be difficult to repair —its direct consequence may be the cessation of a number of important joint projects and the loss by Turkish companies of their positions on the Russian market."

A Russian Su-24 jet crashed inSyria on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the plane was downed byan air-to-air missile launched bythe Turkish F-16 jet overthe Syrian territory, and fell 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) fromthe Turkish border. Putin said the Turkish attack wasa "stab inthe back" carried outby "accomplices ofterrorists."