Russia, Turkey Discuss Retaliatory Measures, Most Sensitive Areas of Relations

Russia and Turkey discussed all areas of bilateral relations where restrictions have been introduced, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A Turkish government delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli, is on a visit to Moscow on July 26-27.

“We discussed an entire range of our bilateral relations in trade and investment and along all those components where restrictions, retaliatory measures have been imposed after the November events, the killing of our pilots and the destruction of the Russian aircraft,” Dvorkovich told reporters.

Russian and Turkish officials also discussed the Turkish Stream project during a meeting Tuesday, but no decisions were made and separate talks on the matter will be held later, according to the minister.

"There was a discussion, a separate meeting will be held," Sentyurin told reporters, noting that there are still a few threats to the Turkish Stream project associated with recent events in Turkey, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said Tuesday.

"Every region has its own risks, its own financial benefits. We were aware of these risks when we made the decision to launch the Turkish Stream project, so there are few additional circumstances here," Dvorkovich told reporters.

Turkey has also invited Russian experts to assess the security situation in order to resume charter flights, the minister said.

"We discussed issues related to the resumption of charter traffic <…> our Turkish colleagues have received the Russian side's recommendations, with which the Turkish side agreed. Our experts received an invitation to visit Turkey to assess the security measures that are being taken," Dvorkovich told reporters.

According to the deputy prime miniser, Russia and Turkey agreed to hold bilateral foreign ministerial and law enforcement-level consultations on lifting visa requirements for Turkey.

“We agreed on consultations between the foreign ministries and competent authorities in law enforcement, special services. We need to provide the necessary assurance that persons involved in extremism terrorist activities are prevented movement to Russia,” Dvorkovich told reporters.

He said Moscow would prepare to lift visa restrictions as soon as the countries reached “mutual understanding on this issue.”

A Turkish government delegation, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli, is on a visit to Moscow on July 26-27.