Erdogan: Taf did what was needed to be done

 During a joint press conference in Ankara with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a statement regarding the military's downing of a Syrian helicopter the previous day. Noting that the government has provided the Turkish army with the authority to act according to the rules of engagement in the event of any border violation, "We have given our Armed Forces authority in certain areas. With respect to the Syrian issue, we have carried out a delegation of authority in terms of the rules of engagement," Erdogan said. Emphasizing the fact that Syrian pilots did not change their course despite the repeated warnings from the Turkish side, "When the warnings were not heeded, the Turkish Armed Forces executed the rules of engagement. There was a border violation of up to two kilometers" he added. Erdogan also commented on the use of conventional weapons in Syria and stated as follows: "We are only acting in terms of the use of chemical weapons. Why? Using chemical weapons is a crime, but using conventional weapons is as much of a crime. The death of nearly 110,000 people is ignored and only the deaths of the 1,700 who have been murdered with chemical weapons are mentioned."