PM retracts compensation offer for downed Russia jet

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday went back on an earlier offer of compensation to Russia for shooting down one of Moscow’s military jets in November, media reported. “Compensating Russia is not on the table, we have only expressed our regrets,” CNN-Turk cited Yildirim as saying, hours after he said Ankara was ready to […]

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Tuesday went back on an earlier offer of compensation to Russia for shooting down one of Moscow’s military jets in November, media reported.
“Compensating Russia is not on the table, we have only expressed our regrets,” CNN-Turk cited Yildirim as saying, hours after he said Ankara was ready to offer compensation for the incident that shattered ties between the two countries.
Speaking on public TV network TRT late Monday, Yildirim had said: “We have said that if necessary we are ready to pay compensation.
“I think we have reached an understanding on this affair. We will put this incident behind us and continue on our path,” he added.
The confusion came a day after a major breakthrough in the diplomatic crisis between the two countries – which back opposing sides in the Syrian war – with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaching out a hand of conciliation.