Downing of a Russian plane by Turkey
Note to correspondents on the downing of a Russian plane
by Turkey
In answer to questions today, the Spokesman said the following:
The Secretary-General is seriously concerned about the downing of a Russian military jet by the Turkish Air Force earlier today.
The Secretary-General
urges all relevant parties to take urgent measures with a
view to de-escalate the tensions. He hopes that a credible
and thorough review of the incident will clarify the events
and help prevent future recurrences.
As he reiterated a
number of times, all those who are engaged in military
activities in Syria, especially air campaigns, need to
maximize operational measures to avoid unintended
consequences and, of course and most importantly, to do
whatever they can to avoid civilian casualties and to
protect civilians.
The Secretary-General believes today's worrying developments once again underscore the importance of international unity and cooperation in international action against violent extremists in the region, as well as the urgent need to agree on a political solution to the tragic events in Syria.
New York, 24 November 2015