06 August 2016: Erdogan comes to Russia
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is due to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on August 9. The key theme of the meeting will be lifting of Russia’s ban on imports of Turkish products as well as their economic and regional cooperation. There are going to be made some decisions which would help economic growth and improve the prospects for their long-term bilateral prosperity. According to what Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Friday, Turkey still hasn’t paid Russia any compensation for the downed Russian Su-24 bomber. Yuri Ushakov mentioned that this issue may be raised at the next meeting of Turkish and Russian Presidents, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.
“Topics for discussion will include the resumption of exports of Turkish food products to Russia, with a focus of the Turkish authorities’ efforts to prevent re-export to Russia via the Turkish territory of products from the European Union countries and some other states which are covered by Russian restrictive measures taken as response to the European Union’s sanctions” said Ushakov. “The sides are discussing conditions for re-lauching charter air service and this issue will also be discussed by the leaders.”
It appears that both sides are using the recent Turkish coup attempt to mend their relations. Ushakov expressed his hope that the negotiations will be “constructive and positive”.
