February 3, 2016
Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans
Rep. Ed Whitfield – Co-Chair
Rep. Steve Cohen – Co-Chair
Rep. Virginia Foxx – Co-Chair
Rep. Gerry Connolly – Co-Chair
“As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans, we strongly condemn Russia’s repeated violations of Turkish airspace, and we join NATO in demanding that Russia respect alliance airspace.
“We have already witnessed a previous Russian incursion into Turkish airspace result in tragedy. Turkey is to be commended for its restraint in the most recent violation of Turkish airspace by a Russian combat aircraft.
“Russia’s actions constitute unnecessary provocations that risk escalated conflict at a time when the international community should be taking coordinated action to defeat ISIL and end the Syrian civil war.