Russia is Turkey’s ‘eternal neighbor’: Turkish PM

ANKARA

AFP photo

Russia is Turkey’s “eternal neighbor,” Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on July 3, as the nations put a seven month diplomatic and economic freeze behind them.

Speaking at an event at the recently inaugurated Osmangazi Bridge crossing İzmit Bay, Yıldırım said: “Russia is our eternal neighbor therefore the temporary deterioration in our relations is not something any of us wanted.”

He added: “Our priority target is to remain friends with all the countries neighboring the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea; to use the opportunities with them instead of having crises; to increase our trading relations; to improve our cultural exchanges [and] tourism; and to boost mutual investments.” Turkey and Russia restored ties last week after falling out over the shooting down last November of a Russian warplane that had violated Turkish airspace at the Syrian border. 

Turning to other recent events, Yıldırım said 29 suspects had been detained to date in connection with June 28’s terrorist attack on Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport.