Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Azerbaijan expressed its disapproval over the fact that the forces of Syria’s air defense shot down a Turkish military reconnaissance aircraft RF-4E (established on the basis of F-4 Phantom).

Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elman Abdullayev informs that Azerbaijan strongly disapproves this incident.

"We consider the steps taken by Syria illegal, and advocate for ensuring that the incident would be thoroughly investigated. Azerbaijan also supports Turkey’s position in this matter, as a friendly (fraternal) country," he emphasized.

Syria has previously announced that it hit RF-4E in 1 km from its shore by anti-aircraft artillery. The plane crashed 10 km from the coast. Turkey explained the RF-4E flight with testing of the national radar and declared that Syrian air defenses began firing on the aircraft at the time when it was still over international waters. Today the NATO Council is to consider the question of the incident.

Relations between Syria and Turkey are strained after Turkey supported the Syrian opposition, which has led more than a year the armed struggle for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad and the regime of the Alawite clan.

25.06.2012 16:33