Turkey and Russia do not have 'luxury' of unfriendly ties: Turkey's EU Minister

ANKARA - Reuters

Turkey's EU Minister Volkan Bozkır. AA Photo

Turkey and Russia do not have the luxury of unfriendly relations, Turkey's EU minister said on Nov. 26, two days after Turkish jets shot down a Russian plane along the Syria border.

Speaking in Ankara, Volkan Bozkır said he expected ties with Moscow to be maintained following the incident, which elicited a furious response from President Vladimir Putin. 

Bozkır also said that progress was expected on Turkey's stalled bid to join the EU, with chapter 17 of the accession process -- dealing with economy and monetary policy -- due to be opened on December 14-15.