Syrian Shoot-Down of Turkish Aircraft
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 24, 2012
I
spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu yesterday to convey our
grave concern about the downing of a Turkish F-4 fighter jet by Syrian
forces on June 22. I also told him that our thoughts and prayers are
with the missing pilots and their loved ones. The Foreign Minister
briefed me on the specifics of the incident, including that the Syrian
military shot its plane down without warning. The United States condemns
this brazen and unacceptable act in the strongest possible terms. It is
yet another reflection of the Syrian authorities' callous disregard for
international norms, human life, and peace and security.
The
United States reaffirms its strong support for the Turkish Government
and its solidarity with the Turkish people in the wake of this incident.
We will maintain close contact with Turkish officials as they continue
to investigate the incident and determine Turkey's response, including
in the Security Council. We will work with Turkey and other partners to
hold the Assad regime accountable.
Turkey has been a leader in the
international community's effort to address the Syrian regime's
violence against its own people. We will continue our close cooperation
with Turkey as part of our broader efforts to promote a democratic
transition in Syria. This work is urgent, and we will be consulting in
New York with the Security Council, in Brussels with NATO and the EU,
and in Geneva with Special Envoy Kofi Annan on next steps.
