Turkish deputy PM flies to Russia to discuss remaining sanctions

ANKARA

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A Turkish delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek travelled to Russia on April 18 to discuss remaining sanctions on Turkish vegetables and a ban on employing Turkish workers. 

Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci accompanied Şimşek at the meeting scheduled with a Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. 

A Russian ban on Turkish products worth around $500 million out of $750 million worth of fresh fruits and vegetables were still continuing, Zeybekci said, adding that Turkey continued to import $1.8 billion worth of agricultural products from Russia. 

Moscow imposed sanctions on Jan. 1, 2016, following the downing of a Russian war plane for violating Turkish airspace. The incident touched off months of diplomatic tension that began abating with a normalization process last summer. 

Russia recently lifted the ban on the import of onions, cloves, salt, cauliflower, broccoli and gum from Turkey, but the sanctions on items such as tomatoes or grapes have remained. 

The Turkish team will also talk on a continuing sanction on employing Turks in Russian businesses, particularly in the construction sector, Anadolu Agency said. 

The delegation is also scheduled to discuss the return to visa-free travel between the two countries and the annulment of restrictions on road transportation.