Latest News

	China urges restraint between Syria, Turkey over jet shooting China on June 25 called for calm and restraint after Turkey accused violence-hit Syria of shooting down its military jet and sought a solution at a NATO meeting. "China has taken note of relevant reports and is closely following the situation," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei during Monday's regular news briefing.
NATO to meet over downed Turkey jet Envoys from NATO member states will meet on June 26 after Turkey requested consultations over Syria's shooting down of one of its warplanes in what Ankara said occurred in "international airspace" on June 22, Reuters reported on June 24, citing a NATO spokeswoman.
Turkish-Syrian relations plunge with fallen fighter jet On the eve of the NATO meeting called by Turkey to discuss Syria's downing of its plane, relations between the two neighbors are on a dangerous slope amid international calls on both sides to show self-restraint and avoid a military showdown.

●Turkey has said Syria on June 22 shot down its military aircraft in international airspace. ●Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said that his government could cut off electricity supplies to Syria. ●Turkey turns to NATO over Syrian attack ●Turkey asks for int'l supports following Syria's downing of Turkish jet

●Syria has been saying the Turkish jet violated its airspace. ●Syria regards Turkish warplane "encroaching upon Syrian sovereignty" A Syrian foreign ministry spokesman said on June 25 that his country has reacted in a defensive and sovereign way to the Turkish war jet which entered the Syrian aerospace Friday, adding that the breach is an encroachment upon the Syrian sovereignty. ●Syria says no hostile intentions toward Turkey over jet incident

Incident Review

Int'l Reaction

	China urges restraint between Syria, Turkey over jet shooting Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei urged the parties concerned to remain calm, exercise restraint and solve the matter through diplomatic channels to avoid escalating tensions.
	US denounces Syrian downing of Turkish fighter jet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on June 24 denounced what she called the "brazen and unacceptable" downing of a Turkish fighter jet by Syria forces, vowing continuing work with Turkey for a "democratic transition" in Syria.
	EU reinforces sanctions against Syria The European Union (EU) on June 25 reinforced its sanctions against Syria, in response to the escalating violence in the country.
	Russia urges NATO not to escalate tension over Syria The Russian Foreign Ministry on June 25 urged NATO not to use Turkey's application for an alliance meeting to escalate the tension around Syria.
	UN chief hopes Turkey-Syria jet incident can be "handled with restraint" UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on June 23 voiced hope that Turkey and Damascus could handle the downing of a Turkish military jet by Syria "with restraint and through diplomatic channels."

Background

●Number of defected Syrian generals in Turkey reaches 12
A total of 32 Syrians, including eight defected army personnel and their families, arrived in Turkey overnight on June 24, a Turkish official told Xinhua Monday on condition of anonymity.

●Turkey has opened its borders to harbor Syrian refugees who have allegedly escaped the violence in their towns and cities. It is one of the countries that are most critical of the Syrian government and harbors on its territories around 33,000 Syrian refugees.

●The Syrian-Turkish relations have hit the bottom since the unrest in Syria began last year. The two sides had been close allies before the Turkish government turn against the government of Bashar al-Assad to be the outspoken critic of his alleged crackdown on anti-regime movement.

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