Turkey denies reports on murder of downed jet pilots by SyriansOctober 2, 2012 - 13:18 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has denied claims by Saudi Arabian news channel Al Arabiya that two Turkish pilots thought to have perished when their jet was shot down June 22 were actually murdered by Syrian intelligence. According to Hurriyet Daily News, Yılmaz told the state-run Anatolia news agency that the public should believe "every piece of information provided by the Turkish Foreign Ministry" while stating "none of [the Al Arabiya claims] were true." Yılmaz said authorities would soon release statements on the matter. The pilots are believed to have died when Syria shot down their jet in the eastern Mediterranean, but Al Arabiya released what was claimed to be official Syrian documents showing that the pilots were rescued, interrogated and murdered by Russia’s instructions before their bodies were planted next to their aircraft. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |