Turkey denies restricting Russian agricultural imports

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

REUTERS photo

Turkey’s Economy Ministry on May 24 denied media claims that the country had imposed restrictions on imports of Russian agricultural products.        

“The news stories do not reflect the truth. Turkey sticks to the signed agreement,” said a ministry statement, referring to the May 22 declaration signed between Turkey and Russia to remove restrictions on bilateral trade that had been placed after the shooting down of a Russian military jet in 2015.        

The declaration - signed in Istanbul by Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich - aims to normalize and develop economic ties and enhance the current trade volume between Russia and Turkey.        

Moscow took several measures against Ankara, including a ban on imports of Turkish agricultural products and ending visa-free travel for Turks, after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet over an airspace violation in November 2015.        

Since last summer, Russia has relaxed the measures and lifted bans on some products, particularly citrus fruits.