No weapons on Syrian plane grounded by Turkey – Lavrov

 

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/syria-plane-turkey-lavrov-291/

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that no weapons were carried by the Syrian passenger plane Turkey diverted on Wednesday over suspicions it was transporting non-civilian cargo.

Lavrov claimed the Airbus A-320 was carrying radar components, and that transporting such items by civil aircraft does not violate international law.

"We have no secrets," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters. "There were, of course, no weapons on the plane and could not have been any. There was a cargo on the plane that a legal Russian supplier was sending in a legal way to a legal customer."

The announcement came in response to a Thursday statement made by Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleging that the Syrian Air jet was transporting Russian-made munitions for the Syrian Defense Ministry.

“It is absolutely clear who sent the cargo and who was going to receive it. This was munitions from the Russian equivalent of our Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation being sent to the Syrian Defense Ministry," Ergodan said.

Turkey diverted the passenger plane en route from Moscow to Damascus on Wednesday as it entered Turkish airspace, and forced it to land in Ankara and open its cargo to inspection. After around nine hours, some items from the cargo were seized and the plane was allowed to depart.

Syria labeled the incident "air piracy," and insisted there was nothing illegal on board the plane.

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Syria: Erdogan keeps lying over plane

 

People speak atop the airstair of the Syrian passenger plane that was forced by Turkish jets to land at Esenboga Airport in Ankara in early Thursday, October 11, 2012

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/10/11/266175/syria-erdogan-keeps-lying-over-plane/

Syria has accused Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of "lying" in claiming that a Syria-bound passenger aircraft intercepted by Turkey was carrying arms to Damascus.

"The Turkish prime minister continues to lie in order to justify his government's hostile attitude towards Syria," read a Thursday statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry, AFP reported.

Turkish F-16 jets intercepted the Syrian Airbus A320 flying over the Turkish airspace late on Wednesday and escorted it to Ankara’s Esenboga Airport. Erdogan has claimed that the plane was carrying "equipment and ammunition [which was being] shipped to the Syrian Defense Ministry."

Damascus has also condemned the move as "hostile and reprehensible" and "another sign of the hostile policies of the Erdogan government, which harbors [anti-Syria insurgents] and bombs Syrian territory."

Challenging the Turkish premier’s remarks, the Syrian Information Ministry has asked him to prove his allegation of weapon seizure."The plane did not carry ammunition or military equipment and Erdogan's comments lack credibility and he must show the equipment and ammunition at least to his people."

The United States rushed to Turkey’s support after Erdogan made the claim.

"We strongly support the government of Turkey's decision to inspect the plane," said US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

Meanwhile, an unnamed Russian source said, “Neither weapons nor any kind of systems or parts for military equipment were on board or could have been on board.”

Turkish authorities allowed the plane and its passengers to leave Ankara nine hours after landing, but they seized parts of the cargo.

The incident took place amid intensified tensions between Ankara and Damascus, and Turkey’s warlike attitude towards Syria.

Border tensions soared on October 3 after Syrian mortar shells landed in Turkey’s border town of Akcakale, leaving five people dead.

Ankara promptly responded with retaliatory fire that continued through following days, and Turkish lawmakers authorized the government to use military force against Syria “when deemed necessary.”

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