Putin calls for broad int�l anti-terror front
He swears to make Turkey regret plane downing
AP
AP, Moscow: Russias President Vladimir Putin called Thursday for a broad international front against terrorism and accused Turkey of trading oil with the Islamic State group. Speaking in his state-of-the-nation address televised live, Putin called for an end to what he called double standards that hampered uniting global efforts in fighting terrorism. He specifically targeted Turkey, accusing it of buying oil from the Islamic State group. He said that Turkeys downing of a Russian jet at the border with Syria was a treacherous war crime. Allah must have punished Turkeys ruling clique by depriving it of sense and reason, he said.
Turkey said it shot down the plane after it violated its airspace for 17 seconds despite repeated warnings, while Russia has insisted that the aircraft stayed in Syrias airspace. Moscow has responded to the shoot-down by deploying long-range air defense missile systems to its air base in Syria and slamming an array of economic sanctions on Turkey, including a ban on imports of fruit and vegetables and the sales of tour packages. We will remind them not once about what they have done, and they will feel sorry about it more than once, he said without spelling out what other actions Russia may take.
But if anyone thinks that after committing the treacherous war crime, the killing of our people, they will get away with (the ban on imports) of tomatoes or some restrictions on construction and other industries, they are deeply mistaken.
The Turkish and Russian foreign ministers are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of an Organization for Security and Cooperation meeting in the Serbian capital Belgrade on Thursday, the first meeting between senior Turkish officials since the planes downing.
Putin said that to efficiently combat terrorism the international community must halt any support of terrorist groups, and said that Turkey has allowed the IS to thrive by illegally purchasing its oil.
We know who in Turkey are filling their pockets and allow terrorists to earn money by selling oil stolen from Syria, he said. For that money the bandits are recruiting mercenaries, buying weapons and staging cruel terror attacks aimed against our citizens, as well as citizens of France, Lebanon, Mali and other countries.
Meanwhile, Putin on Thursday vowed Turkeys leadership would be made to regret the downing of one of Russias warplanes as Moscow announced a halt to talks on a major gas pipeline project. As Putin fired another salvo in his mounting war of words with NATO member Turkey his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared he had proof that Russia was involved in illegal oil trading with the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.
Turkey has become Moscows prime international sparring partner after it shot down a Russian jet on its border with Syria on November 24 -- sparking fury in Russia and economic sanctions from the Kremlin.
Erdogans allegations of Russian complicity with IS echo allegations made by Putin against Turkey and its leader in recent days.
