Ban Ki-moon asks Turkey, Russia to de-escalate tension

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he’s deeply concerned about tensions between Russia and Turkey after Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian warplane last week.

Ban told The Associated Press in an interview in Paris on Sunday that he had urged “the leadership of the two countries first to de-escalate the tension” while they’re fighting against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Ban said that when there is “division and tension between coalition partners,” it will not be beneficial in mobilizing global commitment to fight terrorism and extremism.

Turkey shot down the Russian plane on Tuesday after it entered Turkish airspace from Syria and ignored several warnings to leave.

Ban is in Paris for the UN global climate conference that begins Monday.

source: AP