Trade with Russia on rise, Turkish trade minister says

By Haydar Toprakci

TUNCELI, Turkey (AA) - The easing of Russian sanctions imposed on Turkey after the shooting down of a Russian warplane 16 months ago will boost trade between the countries, Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said Friday.

Moscow has been gradually easing the sanctions, which included a ban on Turkish agricultural produce and tourist packages, since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Vladimir Putin’s rapprochement in June.

On Thursday, Russia agreed to resume the import of some of the previously banned foodstuffs, an official in the Turkish prime minister’s office said.

“The lifting of the ban is a sign that the trade between our countries will achieve a higher level than our president and our government set before Nov. 24,” Tufenkci said during a visit to the eastern province of Tunceli.

Nov. 24, 2015 was the date the Russian jet was shot down by the Turkish Air Force for violating Turkish airspace.

Tufenkci was speaking as Erdogan visited Moscow for a High-Level Cooperation Council meeting with Russian officials, including Putin.

He added that he did not expect Turkey-EU relations to be negatively affected by recent tensions over the cancellation of constitutional change campaign events in Europe. Turkey is holding a referendum next month on the proposals, in which Turkish nationals living abroad can vote.