Erdogan, Obama agree on need to reduce tensions after Russian plane downed: Ankara

Erdogan, Obama agree on need to reduce tensions after Russian plane downed: Ankara
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Summary Obama had stated in telephone talks that the US supported Turkey's right to defend its sovereignty.

ANKARA (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama on Tuesday agreed on the need to reduce tensions and prevent a repeat of similar incidents after Turkish forces shot down a Russian plane on the Syrian border for allegedly violating Turkish air space, the presidency said.

"They were in accord on the importance of de-escalating tensions and making arrangements to prevent a repeat of such incidents," the Turkish presidency said in a statement following telephone talks between the two leaders.

The statement said that Obama had emphasised in the telephone talks that Turkey s right to defend its sovereignty was "supported by the United States and NATO".

They also expressed their commitment to a bringing about a transitional political process for peace in Syria and joint determination to continue the fight against Islamic State (IS) terrorists, the statement added.