WASHINGTON, March 29 (Sputnik) — Cavusoglu stated during a question-and-answer session:
"We want to normalize our relations with Russia as well. Russia has been not only a neighbor for us, but a partner and we had a very good relationship."
Russian-Turkish relations deteriorated following the downing of the Russian Su-24 aircraft by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24, 2015. In response to this "stab in the back," as it was described by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey.
Russia's retaliatory measures against Ankara include, in particular, a restriction of the activities of Turkish organizations in Russia, prohibition of hiring Turkish citizens by Russian employers and a ban on certain food imports.
There have been no high-level contacts between the two countries following the November incident.
