[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RUSSIAN INCURSION OF TURKISH AIRSPACE

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2016

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call 
our attention to Russia's unprovoked aggression against a friend and 
NATO ally of the United States.
  As you may know, in recent months, the Republic of Turkey has 
reported several incidents of Russian incursion of Turkish airspace. As 
my colleagues will remember, in November 2015, the Turkish military was 
forced to shoot down a Russian warplane that entered its airspace. That 
action was condemned by the Russian Federation, but Turkish officials 
have repeatedly disclosed that they provided significant warnings to 
those pilots, as well as allowed ample time for the plane to correct 
its course. This shows the Russian incursion into Turkish airspace was 
no incursion.
  This weekend, the Pentagon confirmed another such incident of a 
Russian fighter jet entering Turkish airspace without authorization. 
While this incident did not result in any violence or loss of life, it 
is disappointing to see continued disrespect from Russia towards the 
Turkish boundary. The Department of Defense released a statement 
calling on the Russians ``to respect Turkish airspace and cease 
activities that risk further heightening instability in the region.''
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Pentagon and the Obama Administration for 
standing with Turkey and the rest of our NATO allies in condemning 
Russia's unprovoked aggression. The world is most stable when the 
United States acts in conjunction with its partners around the world in 
standing up to those who would do them harm. I urge the Administration 
to continue to stand strong with our friends in Turkey as well as with 
our NATO allies around the world in condemning this unprovoked 
encroachment and protecting allies' borders.

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