Turkey shot down Russian bomber over Syria

[goyacobol]

The financial system of illusion and the man/men behind the curtain...

How long will it last? Who knows...

Keiser: Brexit fallout could result in systemic collapse bigger than 2008

Keiser told RT this ‘uncollateralized’ money comes from Carney’s “magic bag of pixie dust” and is part of a financially-engineered class war, coordinated by the Central Banks where in the UK Carney is “class warrior in chief.”

He believes all fiat currencies around the world will face more pressure as gold regains its place in a bull market while bitcoin, which is also in a bull market, will put pressure on governments to mandate economic policy as people look to the exclusive use of the cryptocurrency.

I guess only illusory "time" will tell.

 

[goyacobol]

An apology too late?

Erdogan apologizes to Putin over death of Russian pilot, calls Russia ‘friend & strategic partner’

Vladimir Putin has received a letter in which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized for the death of the Russian pilot who was killed when a Russian jet was downed over the Syrian-Turkish border last November, the Kremlin said.
Erdogan expressed readiness to restore relations with Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.

The incident involving the downing of the Russian Su-24 bomber led to the worst deterioration of Turkish-Russian relations in recent history, with Russia describing it as a “stab in the back.”

The President of Turkey expressed sympathy and deep condolences to the family of the killed Russian #Su24 pilot

“The head of the Turkish state expressed his deep sympathy and condolences to the relatives of the deceased Russian pilot and said ‘sorry,’” Peskov said.

In his letter, Erdogan called Russia “a friend and a strategic partner” of Ankara, with whom the Turkish authorities would not want to spoil relations.

“We never had a desire or a deliberate intention to down an aircraft belonging to Russia,” the letter read, according to a statement published on the Kremlin website.

According to the statement, Erdogan’s letter stressed that “the Turkish side undertook all the risks and made a great effort to recover the body of the Russian pilot from the Syrian opposition, bringing it to Turkey. The organization of the pre-burial procedures was conducted in accordance with all religious and military procedures.”

Ankara has treated the family of the dead Russian pilot as if it were a Turkish family and is “ready for any initiatives to relieve the pain and severity of the damage done,” the letter said.

The address by the Turkish leader also informed that a criminal investigation has been launched against the person suspected of killing the Russian pilot, the Kremlin said.

n addition, Erdogan expressed readiness to tackle security challenges in the region and fight terrorism together with Moscow, it added.

Turkish Hurriyet newspaper reported that sources close to Erdogan have confirmed that the letter with the apology was sent to Moscow.

On November 24, 2015, a Russian Su-24 bomber, taking part in an anti-terrorist mission in Syria, was brought down by the Turkish Air Force.

The plane crashed in a rebel-held territory in Syria near the Turkish border. The pilots ejected, but one was killed by machine gun fire from the militants on the ground.

Turkish nationalist Alparslan Celik has claimed responsibility for the death of Russian Lieutenant Colonel Oleg Peshkov.

Ankara claimed that it attacked the Russian bomber for violating its airspace, but was never able to provide proof that any wrongdoing took place.

Moscow vigorously denied the Turkish claims, calling the downing of the plane “a stab in the back" from a state which it had considered an ally.

Russia reacted harshly to the incident, imposing a wave of sanctions against Turkey, which affected trade, tourism, joint energy projects and other areas.

From the start, the Kremlin made it clear that restoration of normal relations with Turkey would be impossible without Ankara apologizing and paying compensation to the pilot’s family.

The news of Erdogan’s apology had a positive effect on Turkey’s currency. The Turkish lira rallied to 2.9330 from 2.9430 against the US dollar, Reuters reported.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will take part in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which will take place in the Russian resort of Sochi on July 1, Turkish NTV channel reported.

An invitation to participate in the event was sent to Cavusoglu by Russia’s Foreign Ministry last week.

 

[angelburst29]

In recent months, President Erdogan's rhetoric toward the EU, and the negotiations process on the country's entry into the organization, has sharpened significantly. Speaking to Sputnik, politician, writer and analyst Suat Kiniklioglu suggested that the government is preparing society to reject the idea membership in the supranational union.

Turkish Leadership Preparing Society for Rejection of EU Membership
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160627/1042029108/turkish-government-eu-membership-rhetoric.html

Last week, President Erdogan claimed that the European Union doesn't want Turkey to join the bloc because it's a "Muslim-majority country," adding that he is now considering a referendum on whether to continue the country's efforts to join the bloc.

"We can stand up and ask the people just like the British are doing," the president said, speaking on the eve of the Brexit referendum in the UK. "We would ask: 'Do we continue the negotiations with the EU or do we end it?' If the people say 'continue', then we would carry on."

"Once it became clear that the issue of abolishing [Shengen area] visas was not going the way the ruling party wanted, the image of a 'lonely leader' – of Erdogan leading a fight against the West, began to form among the population," Kiniklioglu said.

Over the past three years, beginning with the protest movement in Gezi Park, the EU has constantly monitored and expressed criticism of Turkish policy on issues such as democratization, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, censorship and pressure on the media," the analyst added. "The situation for the Turkish president became even more complicated after the question of the interpretation of the concept of terrorism found itself on the agenda."

In light of the downturn in relations between Ankara and Brussels, Kiniklioglu suggested that "the recent statements by Erdogan in relation to the EU are an attempt to prepare the electorate for a possible slowdown in the negotiations process, and the [further] cooling of relations between Turkey and the EU."

Moreover, the analyst recalled that the debate on negotiations for entry hadn't led to consensus. "The country's economy faces serious negative trends, and it is becoming increasingly clear that this autumn and winter will be very difficult in this sense. All this will require the strengthening of the Turkish leadership's image in the eyes of their voters," with President Erdogan portrayed as fighting "alone against the West."

Commenting on the results of the Brexit referendum, where a majority of voters voted to leave the 28-member bloc, Kiniklioglu emphasized that he believes that "Europe will be entering an extremely unstable political and economic period." As for the country's prospects in the midst of this crisis, the analyst suggested that it's difficult to predict how events will unfold, "given that there are currently no negotiations except on issues of trade and the problem of refugees."

Turkey formally applied for membership in 1987, and began accession talks in 2005, but negotiations have been extremely slow, slowing further in recent years. In the run-up to the Brexit referendum, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Turkey's membership to the EU was "not remotely on the cards," adding that Ankara may not be ready to join the bloc "until the year 3000" if current trends continue.

Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said that there is a significant progress in relations between Turkey and Russia after a letter of apology sent by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Turkish Defense Minister Predicts Improvement in Turkey-Russia Relations
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160627/1042030046/turkey-russia-relations.html

Relations between Turkey and Russia will soon see a significant improvement following a letter of apology sent by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said Monday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier on Monday that Putin had received a letter from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing condolences over the death of a pilot in the downing of a Russian combat plane by a Turkish fighter jet last year and voicing Ankara's readiness to resolve the current bilateral crisis.

According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Erdogan "is sorry" and is willing to deal with the crisis in the relations between two countries.

Erdogan Sends Condolences to Putin Over Death of Russian Su-24 Pilot
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160627/1042017250/putin-erdogan-su24-jet.html

Vladimir Putin has received a letter from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing readiness to resolve bilateral crisis caused by the downing of a Russian combat plane by the Turkish fighter jet last year, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Erdogan said that Turkey "shares the pain of the downed Su-24 pilot's death with his family" and "sees it as Turkey's pain", according to Peskov.

Turkey is ready to take all steps required to "relieve the pain and severity of damage" to the deceased Su-24 pilot's family, Erdogan writes in his letter to the Russian President.

"In the letter, the Turkish President also says he has always seen Russia as a strategic partner and a friend", Peskov said.

The trial of Alparslan Celik, a Turkish citizen accused of the criminal possession and carrying of weapons, has begun in the western Turkish city of Izmir. Celik had earlier been found not guilty of the murder for the murder of Russian pilot Oleg Peshkov, whose Su-24 bomber jet was shot down over Syria in November 2015 by a Turkish warplane.

Trial of Suspected Murderer of Russian Su-24 Pilot Begins in Turkey
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160627/1042008697/turkey-su-24-pilot-murderer-trial.html

The court session began at 10 am GMT in conditions of heightened security. The entrance to the courtroom was guarded by over a dozen armed police and security services officials in civilian clothes. Russian media were not allowed into the courtroom, supposedly due to a lack of space.

A court official told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency that "the hall is very small, there is very little room for the public; we can allow the press into the courtroom only during a break in the proceedings, if one is announced."

The court has also banned media from disclosing statements by the accused, the official added.

On November 24, 2015, a Turkish F-16 fighter plane shot down a Russian Su-24M bomber jet operating as part of Russia's anti-terrorist mission in northern Syria near the Turkish border. Following the shootdown, Russian pilot Oleg Peshkov successfully ejected from his plane, but was shot and killed as his parachute descended to the ground by armed militia.

Later, Alparslan Celik, a member of the ultra-nationalist militant group Grey Wolves, suspected to be operating in the area, confirmed his involvement in the murder of the Russian pilot.

In early April, Celik was arrested in Izmir on charges of the criminal possession and carrying of weapons. During the investigation, he claimed that he personally did not shoot Peshkov, and that he told his men not to do so, but that he took responsibility as the commander of the militia group. The prosecutor's office withdrew the charge of murder against Celik due to "insufficient evidence."

Celik appeared before the court along with a group of six others, detained with him for the criminal possession of weapons; Turkish authorities seized Kalashnikov assault rifles, shotguns and pistols. Celick and his associates face between 5-8 years of imprisonment if the court finds them guilty of the criminal possession of weapons. Celik does not accept the charges, suggesting that the weapons do not belong to him, but to those detained with him, who had also previously fought in Syria.

 

[angelburst29]

A court in the Turkish town of Izmir has released Alparslan Celik, charged with illegal weapons possession, as well as other defendants, on recognizance, Bora Erguden, a lawyer of the defendants, told TASS on Monday. Alparslan Celik is also the alleged killer of the Russian Su-24 bomber pilot in Syria last November.

Suspected killer of Russian Su-24 bomber pilot released on recognizance
http://tass.ru/en/world/884901

A lawyer says the decision does not mean that charges have been dropped.

"The court has released the defendants. This means that charges against them have not been dropped, but the arrest as a measure of restraint during the court hearings, has been cancelled," he said. According to the lawyer, Celik and other suspects in the case remains defendants and the proceeding continue.

Turkish police detained Celik and another 14 individuals in a restaurant in Izmir on March 30. The authorities confiscated several unlicensed submachine guns, a rifle and several pistols from the suspects. Some had allegedly returned from Syria where they had fought on the side of armed militant groups.

The local media spread Celik’s confession about the murder of the Su-24 pilot, Oleg Peshkov. Later, when in custody, the suspect denied personally shooting down the Russian, saying he had never issued such an order. Subsequently, the Prosecutor’s Office failed to find sufficient grounds to initiate criminal proceedings for that incident.

Russia’s ambassador to Syria, Alexander Kinshchak, told TASS that there are no grounds to expect a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo.

Ground route of aid delivery to Syria’s Hasakah blocked by Turkey — ambassador
http://tass.ru/en/world/884966

Humanitarian assistance to Syria’s city of Hasakah can be delivered only by air, because Turkey has closed the border checkpoint, Russia’s ambassador to Syria, Alexander Kinshchak, told TASS in an interview, adding that the air bridge was a rather costly solution.

"The United Nations and the International Red Cross are still unable to deliver aid to a number of Syrian cities besieged by the extremists," he said.

As far as Deir ez-Zor (a large provincial center with a population of 200,000) is concerned, the situation is clear: the roads are blocked by the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia). Any agreement with the IS is impossible, so humanitarian supplies are airlifted. The state of affairs in Hasakah, on the border with Turkey is different. There is not such clarity.

"Why do humanitarian supplies have to be delivered there by cargo aircraft? This requires heavy spending. The costs of air transportation are high," Kinshchak said. "It is a question to which I have no answer."

"The Turks have closed the border checkpoint and they do not let in humanitarian convoys. This forces the United Nations to airlift foods and medical supplies. It is a costly solution. But nobody gets angry over this and nobody threatens with sanctions or the use of force. This is precisely what one calls double standards," Kinshchak said.

"Any humanitarian assistance can be easily delivered to Hasakah from Turkey. This is not being done because Ankara does not give permission," he said. "This is a hard fact too. But nobody makes any special protests over this, either.

No grounds to fear humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo

According to the diplomat, there are no grounds to expect a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo.

"Judging by the political aspects, I would say that there are no grounds to fear a humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo," he said.

He drew attention to the fact that various international organizations and Western and some of the regional mass media began to show concern over the humanitarian situation in Aleppo when Syrian air force started to deliver airstrikes against militant convoys moving along the Castello road which is used to provide supplies to terrorist groups around the city from abroad.

"It looks like these concerns emerged not for nothing. They were a reaction to airstrikes against militant convoys on the Castello road that were geared to stop supplies to militants from abroad," the Russian diplomat noted. "As for the military situation around Aleppo, so far, government forces have to conduct fierce defense battles to repel massive attacks of Jabhat al-Nusra jihadists and their allies."

 

[angelburst29]

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that Recep Tayyip Erdogan may hold a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 29-30.

Erdogan May Hold Telephone Conversation With Putin on June 29-30
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160628/1042050784/erdogan-putin-phone-call-june.html

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may hold a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 29-30, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

"Turkish and Russian nations do not like this crisis [in Turkey-Russia relations]. The Turkish leader will hold a telephone conversation with Mr. Putin on Wednesday or Thursday," Yildirim wrote on his Twitter page Monday.

Earlier Erdogan expressed hope for soonest normalization of relations between Turkey and Russia.

Turkey is ready to pay compensation to Moscow for the downed Russian Su-24 combat jet near the Turkish border in Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said.

Turkey Ready to Pay Compensation for Downed Russian Jet in Syria
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160628/1042049929/turkey-ready-pay-russia-jet-compensation.html

On Monday, the Kremlin's press office published a statement saying that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin saying he was interested in resolving the conflict triggered by the 2015 Turkish downing of a Russian jet in Syria and offering condolences to the family of the killed pilot.

"The letter's content is clear. We expressed our regret and we will pay the compensation [for the downed jet] if it is necessary. Both countries are seeking to normalize the relations. To my mind, we have reached some progress," Yildirim told the TRT television broadcaster.

The United States is warning US citizens not to travel to southeastern Turkey.

US Warns Against Travelling to Turkey Amid Terrorist Threat
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160628/1042050882/usa-turke-terrorist-warning.html

The United States is warning US citizens not to travel to southeastern Turkey because of ongoing terrorist threats, the Department of State said in a travel warning.

"The US Department of State warns US citizens of increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey and to avoid travel to southeastern Turkey," the warning stated on Monday afternoon.

The release warns against travelling near the Syrian border and calls on US citizens to stay away from political gatherings, rallies, and popular tourist destinations.

 

[canavare]

It is very difficult for Putin to trust erdogan again and this late and half apology is not enough
but I think Russia want to normalize the relations with turkey up to a certain point.
Erdogan was an unreliable pathological liar and he is still so.
Russian leadership probably world best one and probably they were and still are aware about the unreliability of Erdogan
but Russian leadership make very wise and pragmatist diplomatic maneuvers.
Remember that Putin called Erdogan as ''tough guy'' not very long ago.

considering that the US backed Kurdish terrorists like YPG and PYD are about to take control of Syrian oil fields which will be a step to implement
odid yinon plan or john kerry's plan B (balkanisation of Syria) . This situation will be a loose-loose-loose situation for Syria,Russia and turkey.

for more information please see:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4unV5BVmWubfAF0Al_AVdw

The interests of this 3 countries intersect right now. I am not sure whether they will normalize the relations and start to cooperate with each other
against US and US puppet Kurdish terrorists. But it will be the wisest action to do.

Unfortunately turkey is an US,EU and NATO puppet too. Turkey was supporting Islamist terrorists in Syria to be an actor of great middle east plan and
for the new ottoman empire dream and in reality turkey is only a puppet of US,EU,NATO and gulf countries only for a few dollars.

 

[goyacobol]

It is very difficult for Putin to trust erdogan again and this late and half apology is not enough
but I think Russia want to normalize the relations with turkey up to a certain point.
Erdogan was an unreliable pathological liar and he is still so.
Russian leadership probably world best one and probably they were and still are aware about the unreliability of Erdogan
but Russian leadership make very wise and pragmatist diplomatic maneuvers.
Remember that Putin called Erdogan as ''tough guy'' not very long ago.

considering that the US backed Kurdish terrorists like YPG and PYD are about to take control of Syrian oil fields which will be a step to implement
odid yinon plan or john kerry's plan B (balkanisation of Syria) . This situation will be a loose-loose-loose situation for Syria,Russia and turkey.

for more information please see:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4unV5BVmWubfAF0Al_AVdw

The interests of this 3 countries intersect right now. I am not sure whether they will normalize the relations and start to cooperate with each other
against US and US puppet Kurdish terrorists. But it will be the wisest action to do.

Unfortunately turkey is an US,EU and NATO puppet too. Turkey was supporting Islamist terrorists in Syria to be an actor of great middle east plan and
for the new ottoman empire dream and in reality turkey is only a puppet of US,EU,NATO and gulf countries only for a few dollars.

mouse,

I found that link very informative about the Kurdish situation. I don't know if SyrianGirlpartisan is legit but if she is the originator of her view she is wise beyond her years I think.

The history of the Kurds that she relates is very interesting and not really condemning the true Kurdish people.

From your link she says:

Published on Jun 6, 2016
Most of what i said in this video is referenced in this article . _https://gianalytics.org/690-why-a-kur...[site is going down]
The Syrian army must defeat ISIS and hold Raqqa before the US and Kurdish YPG get there, for the unity of Syria and the survival of Syria's Assyrian christian population.

Please don't blame Kurds for the actions of YPG or KRG. They do not represent Kurdish people as the media tries to portray. As I said in the video some Kurds are loyal Syrian citizens. Some kurds arrived in the time of Saladin's and settled in Homs and became a part of our society, and they abhor the sectarianism behind the kurdistan agenda. Obviously many are running because they don't want their kids conscripted by YPG. They just want to live their lives instead of being dragged into perpetual wars. Like Zionists don't have the best interests of the Jewish people at heart, neither do Zionist kurds have the best interest of Kurds at heart. To the zionist a jew is just canon fodder for eretz israel "One cow in Palestine is worth more than all the jews of europe" Yitzhak Gruenbaum. Though sadly many Kurds have been brainwashed into thinking the entire north half of Syria belongs to them, including historic Aleppo. They've been convince to deny their Persian ancestry. But It is better to convince them of the truth than to spread hatred against Kurds and drive them into the arms of the zionist kurds.

https://youtu.be/lKZqu61IbFI

This was a very different portrayal of the YPG and PPK than anything I have heard so far.

This of course is an information war situation so I am trying to "think with a hammer" about who is telling the truth. :/

 

[Ca.]

Footage of President Assad visit to the Ghouta frontlines
Al-Masdar News
Published on Jun 26, 2016

https://youtu.be/iWILTdEAArY

 

[angelburst29]

Spokesman of a Turkish political party revealed the Turkish government, since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, has been transporting weapons via ambulances to the terrorist organizations in Syria.

Turkish Government Uses Ambulances to Transport Weapons to Terrorists in Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950408000450

“Turkey is a main cause of the war against Syria due to its miscalculations and arbitrary policies which caused the bloodshed of innocents in Syria,” the People’s Democratic Party in Turkey (HDP) Ayhan Bilgen told Syrian media, pointing out that terrorists leave Turkish camps for fighting in Syria and return back to the camps in Turkey, SANA reported.

The policy of Justice and Development party (AKP) negatively affected civil security in Turkey which became now in danger, affirming that AKP is seeking to liquidate HDP and moving it out of the Parliament, saying that what happens in the Southeastern of Turkey is demolishing cities with shells and explosives on the pretext of fighting terrorism and this is an incredible and unbelievable excuse.

Bilgen pointed out that the policy of AKP was completely wrong and based on unbalanced regional balances. He said that Turkish regime unlimitedly interfered in Syria’s affairs, supported terrorist organizations, and allowed foreign fighters to cross its border into Syria.

HDP spokesman called upon Turkish government to abandon terrorist organizations it supported including ISIL, al-Nusra Front, Sultan Abdel Hamid brigades, Ahrar al-Sham and others, and to support intra-Syrian dialogue.

Russia's Representative to the Truce Monitoring Center underlined that an immediate halt in arms shipment to the foreign-backed militants in Syria would be the main contributor to the success of international efforts to end the over 5-year-long bloodshed in the Middle-Eastern country.

Monitoring Center Calls for Immediate Halt in Arms Shipment from Turkey to Terrorists in Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950408000884

Alexander Zorin disclosed that the terrorist group of al-Nusra Front received hundreds of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and advances tanks from its backers during the three months of ceasefire that started in late February.

"Most of the dispatched arms and ammunition have been sent to Northern Syria through the Turkish border," Zorin added.

"We, on behalf of the UN, have called several times on the Turkish officials to seal their borders and prevent infiltration of arms and ammunition into terrorist-held regions in Syria, but Ankara has not paid any attention to such demands and international statements," he went on to say.

Meantime, spokesman for a Turkish political party revealed the Turkish government, since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, has been transporting weapons via ambulances to the terrorist organizations in Syria.

“Turkey is a main cause of the war against Syria due to its miscalculations and arbitrary policies which caused the bloodshed of innocents in Syria,” the People’s Democratic Party in Turkey (HDP) Ayhan Bilgen told Syrian media, pointing out that terrorists leave Turkish camps for fighting in Syria and return back to the camps in Turkey.

Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm newspaper, underlined that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has no option other than changing his policies towards Russia and Syria.

Arab Analyst: Erdogan Left with No Option But to Shift Policies on Iran, Russia
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950408001229

"Erdogan has reached a deadlock and his policies in the region have been fully defeated," Atwan said on Tuesday.

He said the new Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildrim, has underlined that his government's policy is based on reducing the enemies and increasing friends, and "it has been under such conditions that Erdogan was forced to apologize to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and meet all Russia's demands".

Atwan also pointed to the recent agreement between Turkey and Israel, and said, "If Erdogan wants to help Israel pass its gas pipeline to Europe via Turkey, it is like playing with fire once again and repeating the past mistakes."

 

[angelburst29]

A Turkish court ruled Tuesday to extend custody of suspected killer of Russian pilot in Syria until Alparslan Celik until June 8, 2017, as part of a fraud case, Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported.

Turkish Court Extends Custody of Suspected Killer of Russian Su-24 Pilot
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160628/1042086530/turkey-rusisia-arrest-pilot.html

On Monday, Celik's lawyer said his client may stay in custody for some time over an old case dating back to 2010 as he was sentenced to 2.5 years of jail over counterfeiting fraud.

As he was released two months before the end of the jail term to see his family, he escaped and went to fight in the Syrian war.

At the same time, Turkish prosecutors have reopened a case against Celik related to his role in the death of Russian servicemen in Syria after new evidence has surfaced.

Celik is now suspected of destroying one of two Mi-8 helicopters that were taking part in the search and rescue operation for the pilots of the downed Russian Su-24. A Russian Marine was killed in the incident.

On Monday Vladimir Putin received a letter from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing readiness to resolve bilateral crisis caused by the downing of a Russian combat plane by the Turkish fighter jet last year.

 

[Ca.]

Suicide Attacks Kill at Least 28 at Istanbul’s Main Airport
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-28/two-blasts-rock-istanbul-s-main-airport-many-reported-injured
June 28, 2016 — 9:38 PM CEST
Updated on June 29, 2016 — 12:24 AM CES

Snippet

Suicide bombers blew themselves up after police spotted them
Istanbul governor says more than 60 people also injured

Suicide bombers killed at least 28 people at Istanbul’s main international airport, the latest in a wave of violent attacks as the country battles Islamist militants and Kurdish separatists.

Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin said three suicide bombers are thought to have taken part in the attack late Tuesday near the security checkpoints at the entrance to Ataturk Airport’s arrivals hall. He said 28 deaths have been confirmed and more than 60 people were injured. Associated Press said the death toll may increase to almost 50, citing an unidentified senior Turkish official.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag earlier told lawmakers in parliament that one attacker had sprayed gunfire from a Kalashnikov rifle at people around him before blowing himself up. The airport was closed to incoming flights and authorities said it would be shut down to all traffic by midnight.

“First I heard the gunfire, then the explosions. Two of them,” said Koray Arslan, who was at the nearby domestic terminal. “They were very powerful. I could feel the tremors under my feet.”

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Turkey’s Dogan news agency cited unidentified police officials saying that Islamic State is believed to be behind the attack. Both Islamist and Kurdish militants have carried out bomb attacks in Turkey in recent months, hammering the nation’s vital tourism industry. Turkey has been hit by spillover from the civil war in neighboring Syria, where Islamic State controls territory along the Turkish border, and the army is also fighting an escalating war with separatist Kurdish rebels.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an e-mailed statement that the Istanbul airport attack was an effort to hurt Turkey’s image. “For the terrorist organizations, there’s no difference between Istanbul and London, Ankara and Berlin, Izmir and Chicago, Antalya and Rome,” he said.

There were foreign citizens among the dead and injured, although the majority were Turks, said a Turkish official who asked not to be identified because he wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.

‘Perfect Storm’

The attack is “yet another reminder, as if any was needed, that Turkey faces the perfect storm of terrorist threats,” Anthony Skinner, a director with U.K.-based forecasting company Verisk Maplecroft, said by e-mail. The spread of violence in Turkey is scaring off tourists. Last month saw the biggest slump in visitor numbers on record.

The lira trimmed gains after the reports of the explosions. It was trading at 2.9049 per dollar at 12:20 a.m. in Istanbul.

The attack is also the latest to target airports and the aviation industry in the Middle East and Europe, coming three months after suicide bombers struck Brussels airport. It serves as reminder of the vulnerability of airport lobbies and other public places where large numbers of people congregate, said Hans Weber, an aviation consultant in San Diego.

“The probability of copycat attacks goes way up high after one of those attacks,” said Weber, who advised the U.S. federal government on airport security issues following the Sept. 11 attacks. “From a terrorist perspective, Brussels was a success. You can see how they would be motivated to copy that.”

Last year, a Russian passenger jet was brought down over the Sinai Peninsula after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh. Islamic State’s affiliate in Egypt claimed responsibility for the incident.

The U.S. is “still collecting information and trying to ascertain” who carried out the Istanbul blast, Secretary of State John Kerry said at a conference in Aspen, Colorado. He said such attacks have become “daily fare” at a time when the world needs to counter violence by non-state actors.

 

[Oxajil]

Suicide Attacks Kill at Least 28 at Istanbul’s Main Airport
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-28/two-blasts-rock-istanbul-s-main-airport-many-reported-injured
June 28, 2016 — 9:38 PM CEST
Updated on June 29, 2016 — 12:24 AM CES
Snippet

Geez, 28 people killed. :( I wonder if they planted bombs again, while saying they were suicide attacks?

"While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Turkey’s Dogan news agency cited unidentified police officials saying that Islamic State is believed to be behind the attack." Usually how it goes.

 

[Aeneas]

That was quick, but it also shows that Putin doesn't carry grudges and like Ceasar is quick to show mercy and accept apologies of wrongdoing:
_http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160629/1042144327/putin-erdogan-talks-trade.html

Putin Instructs Gov't to Start Talks With Turkey on Restoring Ties
President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian government to launch the process of restoring cooperation with Turkey, including in trade and economic ties, after phone conversation with his Turkey counterpart earlier in the day, the Kremlin said Wednesday.

"The Russian leader said that he would instruct the government to start negotiations with the Turkish authorities to restore the mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in trade, economic and other areas."

Putin-Erdogan 40-Minute Talks 'Productive, Positive' - Turkish Sources
Putin instructed the Russian government to lift tourism-related restrictions against Turkey. The Russian leader expressed hope that Turkish authorities will take additional measures to ensure safety of Russian nationals in Turkey.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured that Turkey will do everything to ensure the safety of Russian citizens in the country.

Putin and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan underscored the need to bolster international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, the Kremlin’s press service said.

"Both sides emphasized the need to intensify international cooperation in the fight against a common terrorist threat."

The Russian and Turkish presidents agreed to hold a personal meeting in the near future, according to the Kremlin.

On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Erdogan had sent a letter regarding the incident with the Russian plane, saying "Excuse us" and pledging to take any steps to "relieve the pain and severity of damage" caused to the family of the pilot killed during the incident.

On Wednesday, Putin noted that Erdogan's letter created preconditions for the resumption of joint work. He told the Turkish president that his letter paved the way to turn a new page in bilateral relations after the crisis.

"Vladimir Putin underlined that the letter from the Turkish president created preconditions to turn the crisis page in the bilateral relations and start the process of restoring join work on international and regional problems, as well as on the development of the entire complex of Russian-Turkish relations."

The Russian Su-24 attack aircraft was shot on November 24, 2015 by a Turkish F-16 fighter near the Turkish border over Syria. Following the incident, Moscow imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey and has repeatedly said that Ankara should apologize for downing the plane and cover any material losses to the country and the pilot's family.

The Russian president expressed hope in the phone conversation with Erdogan that Turkey's investigation of the killing of the Russian Su-24 pilot will be objective.

 

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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 40-minute telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart was "very productive and constructive," sources close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday.

Putin-Erdogan 40-Minute Talks 'Productive, Positive' - Turkish Sources
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160629/1042138010/putin-erdogan-talks.html

An official written statement on the outcome of the talks is expected later, sources close to Erdogan said, as cited by Turkey's NTV television.

On Monday, the Kremlin announced that Erdogan had sent a letter regarding the incident with the Russian plane, saying "Excuse us" and pledging to take any steps to "relieve the pain and severity of damage" caused to the family of the pilot killed during the incident.

The Russian Su-24 attack aircraft was shot on November 24, 2015 by a Turkish F-16 fighter near the Turkish border over Syria. Following the incident, Moscow imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey and has repeatedly said that Ankara should apologize for downing the plane and cover any material losses to the country and the pilot's family.

The Russian government’s changes to legislation aimed at restoring economic ties with Turkey will be ready in the coming days, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Wednesday.

Russian Deputy PM: Legal Changes to Restore Ties With Turkey Nearly Ready
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160629/1042168389/russia-turkey-restoring-ties.html

"On Turkey, the regulatory decisions will be adopted in the next few days. They are already being prepared," Dvorkovich told reporters.

Asked to follow up on when charter flights with Turkey would resume, the deputy prime minister said it was up to Russian air carriers to determine the timeline of when to restore flights.

Food suppliers faced "similar decisions," Dvorkovich added.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) welcomes the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to lift restrictions against Turkey in the sphere of tourism, a spokeswoman for the London-based WTTC told Sputnik on Wednesday.

World Tourism Council Welcomes Russia's Decision to Lift Turkey Travel Ban
http://sputniknews.com/society/20160629/1042175860/travel-ban-turkey.html

Earlier in the day, following the telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin ordered the government to prepare to lift administrative restrictions against Turkey in tourism field.

"The Russian market is really important for Turkey. The restrictions on Russians travelling to Turkey have been very significant in terms of contributing to [Turkey’s] tourism sector problems. So we would welcome the announcement of the President Putin that restrictions have been lifted," Olivia Ruggles-Brise said.

 

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After months of confrontation, Recep Tayiip Erdogan apologized to Russia for the shoot down of its jet operating over Syria and made a move to normalize relations with Israel. The editor of leftist Turkish newspaper “soL” Kemal Okuyan believes it was the only option for the Turkish president.

Sinking Ship? Erdogan Apologized to Russia to 'Save Himself'
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160701/1042262972/erdogan-apologizes-russia-saving-himself.html

Speaking with Brian Becker of Loud&Clear, Okuyan, who’s on trial in Turkey for criticizing the president, said that Erdogan policies have led the country to political standoff with the US, Israel and the EU as well as Russia. Ankara has also traditionally had strained relations with Iran, Greece and Armenia that haven’t improved. As a result Turkey became “the country that has problems with all the world and regional powers.”

The Erdogan administration’s unsuccessful policies, along with its stance on Syria, split public opinion among the Turkish population, Okuyan says. Nearly half of the country’s citizens still support the president, while the other half oppose him.

“The Turks are fighting Erdogan, although they have supported him for a while,” he says, explaining that the more progressive part of society opposes Erdogan’s policies that combine nationalism and regionalism into what Okuyan describes as ‘Ottomanism.’

Erdogan’s new ‘Ottomanism’ philosophy fits in well with the intervention in Syria, Okuyan adds. While the president hoped to create an expanded region populated by Sunni Muslims to counterbalance a growing Iran, Ankara’s “policies in Syria have lost completely.”

In addition, the downing of a Russian jet over Syria severed relations between Ankara and Moscow. As a result, Turkey experienced harsh economic consequences, particularly in the tourist sector. Without Russian tourists, some parts of the country are completely deserted.

“Erdogan was using Russia to balance some criticism coming from the United States. He tried to use the Russian card.”

Finding himself being criticized on all fronts, Erdogan extended a hand toward Russia in an attempt to save his political career. This does not mean, however, that all his problems with Russia are solved.

“This is the move Erdogan [made] to save himself. Of course it has some political and economic context, but the main issue is to save Erdogan.”

Retired US Army Maj. Todd Pierce claims that the US decision to send Patriot anti-ballistic missile interceptor batteries to Turkey has no military justification and may be a preparation for a manufactured incident to provoke a new crisis in the region.

US Deployment of Patriot Batteries in Turkey Threatens New Crisis
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160701/1042262275/patriot-turkey-deployment-crisis.html

The US decision to send Patriot anti-ballistic missile interceptor batteries to Turkey has no military justification and may be a preparation for a manufactured incident to provoke a new crisis in the region, historian and retired US Army Maj. Todd Pierce told Sputnik.

"Do you pick up the preparation for yet another ‘Gulf of Tonkin Moment’ here?" Pierce said on Thursday.

Pierce was referring to the alleged clash between a US warship, the destroyer Maddox and two North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964 that was used to win congressional endorsement for what became the US involvement in the Vietnam War.

NATO is deploying missile defense systems in Turkey under the pretext of a non-existent threat of missile attacks from Syria, Russian Ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko told Sputnik earlier on Thursday.

Pierce said the Obama administration remained committed to finding whatever justification it needed to expand its military forces in the region with the goal of toppling Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"That is what the Syrian war and proposed takedown of Assad is really about: rolling up any potential Russian allies," he explained.

Pierce pointed out that deploying the Patriot systems was an unnecessary move as Turkey faced no direct threats of missile attacks.

Does deploying these Patriots systems in Turkey make any sense at all for Turkey's national security? Absolutely not: Who is going to attack them? Bulgaria?" he asked.

The Patriots deployment appeared to be part of NATO’s policies to encircle Russia with increased military deployments, Pierce stated.

"It is definitely not about protecting the Turkish people… It is directed at Russia in some way because there is no other potential opponent in the area," he continued.

Pierce said the Patriot systems’ deployment was part of a US strategy, also employing NATO that had been operating for at least 18 years since the NATO bombing of Serbia to force it to leave its Kosovo province in 1999.

"Since the Kosovo War with the takedown Milosevic, we have been working to subvert or overthrow any ally or potential ally of Russia with a tactical aim of weakening them, and with Russia as the ultimate target. The Wolfowitz doctrine stated that. Now we are getting closer," he noted.

Pierce noted that long-term US strategy toward Russia was similar to the policy that the United States feared it was experiencing from the Soviet Union through the decades of the Cold War.

"Remember when the Soviet Union seemed to be encircling us with Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Grenada? And how that angered us? We saw it there as their military aggressiveness… We took it as a threat which needed to be countered," he said.

Current US policies of deploying increasingly large military forces and weapons systems around the periphery of Russia from the Baltics to Turkey was bound to generate those kinds of fears in Moscow, Pierce warned.