Russia: No embargo on Turkish exports

MOSCOW

Russia’s presidency spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the government does not plan to impose an embargo on products that are exported to Russia from Turkey, according to a report in Ria-Novosti, Russia’s official news agency.

The announcement comes in the wake of the downing of a Russian fighter jet by Turkish armed forces on Tuesday.

But Peskov said that controls on Turkish exports would be stepped up, according to the report.

Some 15 percent of Turkish agricultural produce does not meet Russian standards with levels of pesticides, nitrates and nitrites considerably above safe limits, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev told the press.

Turkish Exporters Assembly Board member Adnan Dalgakiran commented: "Russian authorities block our exports and find reasons which are not difficult to create. This problem poses a major risk to our trade as goods waiting at customs mean delayed transactions and even fresh products rotting in trucks or containers".

Dalgakiran said Russian and Turkish authorities should overcome this difficult situation as both countries obtain great benefits from this partnership.

The International Transporters Association of Turkey said in a note on its website on Thursday: "According to the information that we received from our members, due the developments at the Syrian border recently occuring between Turkey and Russia, transporters of all nationalities who are carrying Turkish export goods are currently forced to wait and are not allowed to enter Russia."

Turkish food exports to Russia were valued at about $1.4 billion last year.

Regarding Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s scheduled visit to Russia in December, Peskov said, “There is no decision yet, the visit has not been cancelled.”

Peskov also said that Russia places great importance on its relations with Turkey. “I should emphasize that our friendship, which benefits both sides, is valuable for us.”

Russia still expects an explanation from the Turkish side on the downing of the Russian plane, Peskov added.

On Tuesday, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets on an aerial patrol intercepted an unidentified aircraft within engagement rules when it intruded into Turkish airspace on the Turkey-Syria border.

The intruding aircraft was warned about the violation 10 times within five minutes before it was shot down.

The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its Russian SU-24 fighter jet had been shot down. It crashed in the Syrian region of Bayirbucak close to Yayladagi district of Turkey's southern Hatay province.

NATO confirmed the accuracy of information shared by Turkey about the violation.

It was not the first time Russian fighter jets had violated Turkish airspace. In early October, Russian warplanes breached Turkish airspace. Russian officials apologized and pledged that no such incident would be repeated. Turkey had also renewed its warning on engagement rules, including a military response against violations of Turkish airspace.