"The history of our relations with Turkey spans several centuries, and today, we sincerely hope that a time will come when out relations return to the level that they were at before November 24 last year," Karlov told RIA Novosti during a memorial ceremony dedicated to Russian diplomats at Ankara's St. Petersburg Square.
St. Pertersburg Square was named so to honor of Russian-Turkish friendship in December 2014 by Ankara's Altindag district authorities. The first Soviet mission to Turkey was located on the square between 1920 and 1927.
The ceremony marking Russia's Diplomats' Day celebrations was attended by Russian embassy staff, Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation representatives and prominent members of the Turkish society. The ceremony was followed by an exhibition event at the former Russian mission building.
Russia suspended its visa-free regime with Turkey and imposed an array of economic measures on Ankara in response to the downing of Russia’s Su-24 frontline bomber.
In late January, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara was eager to normalize relations with Moscow.