Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Saturday held a surprise informal meeting with Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko.
The meeting reportedly took place at an international conference held in Turkmenistan's capital Asghabat, 'based on a request from Turkey,' Matvienko has reportedly said.
Matvienko has underscored that Russia still 'expects an apology from Turkey' regarding the shooting of a Russian warplane for violation of Turkish airspace.
She added that 'neither Russia nor Turkey would want relations between the two countries to deteriorate.'
A warplane of unknown nationality, which turned out to be a Russian-made SU-24 jet, entered Turkish airspace on November 24. It was downed by Turkish F16 fighter jets patrolling the border, upon the Russian pilot's refusal to quit Turkish airspace even after 10 warnings.
Russia later claimed responsibility for the jet which fell in Bayırbucak region in Syria bordering Yayladağı district of southern Hatay province of Turkey. NATO confirmed the validity of the information disclosed by Turkey regarding the airspace violation.
In early October, Russian warplanes had also violated Turkish airspace and Russian officials apologized for the incident and said that it would not be repeated. Later on, Turkey again declared that rules of engagement including military response would be implemented.
