Turkey rejects Russian request for routine observation flight
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ANKARA/MOSCOW - Turkey has rejected a Russian request for a routine observation flight over its territory under a decade-old pact meant to enhance mutual confidence, a move Moscow said set "a dangerous precedent".
Russia and NATO member Turkey back opposing sides in Syria's civil war, with Moscow supporting President Bashar Assad, while Ankara supports rebel fighters battling to overthrow him.
Under a 1992 treaty allowing signatories to conduct aerial observation on each other's territory to promote transparency in military affairs, Russia had been scheduled to conduct its latest flight over Turkey between Feb. 2-5.
But Turkey's foreign ministry said on Thursday an agreement could not be reached and the flight did not occur.
Russia blamed Turkey, saying Ankara had not set any conditions for the proposed observation flight, but that when Moscow proposed a route which included surveillance of Turkish regions bordering Syria, it was rejected.
