Bećirović: Downing of Russian plane will not have a global impact

A Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-24 with an air-to-air missile, which was participating in operations in northwestern Russia near the Syrian-Turkish border because it violated Turkish airspace, and according to Zijad Bećirović, director of the International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) Ljubljana, this incident will not have a global impact, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

- This is a local incident that will not have a global impact. It is known that Turkey has repeatedly warned Russia about airspace violations, so both sides and the public were somehow already prepared for what happened - says Bećirović.

Given that the Russian side claims it did not violate Turkish airspace, while Turkey believes it did, Bećirović explains whether Turkey's action can be justified.

- NATO has confirmed that Turkish airspace, which is also NATO airspace, has been violated. Everything indicated that such an incident would occur - believes Bećirović.

EU leaders are calling for "cool heads" from both Turkey and Russia, and when asked if this is a realistic expectation, Bećirović says it is.

- There will be somewhat more frequent rhetoric between the countries, primarily for the sake of their publics.

When asked how things will unfold further, Bećirović said:

- Unfortunately, nothing significant will happen yet. Until the geopolitical appetites of the main actors are satisfied, there will be no progress in achieving peace. We are still far from that.

US President Barack Obama also said that Turkey has the right to defend itself, and the Pentagon claims that the Russian plane was warned ten times before being shot down. What do you think actually happened?

- I have already said that Russia was warned multiple times about violating Turkish airspace. When you carry out such demanding combat air missions (aerial bombing) near the border with Turkey, it is almost inevitable that you sometimes violate airspace, in this case, Turkey's - says Bećirović for Patria.