Turkey says it can see ‘signs’ of softening ties with Russia
ANKARA
AFP photo
There are increasing signs that bilateral tension between Turkey and Russia is softening, following months of strain after the former shot down a Russian warplane on Nov 24, 2015, Government Spokesperson Numan Kurtulmuş has said.“We are observing some signs of a softening of the relationship following letters sent to the Russian authorities from our president and prime minister,” Kurtulmuş told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting on June 27.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Binali Yıldırm had sent congratulatory letters to their counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Dimitry Medvedev, to mark the occasion of Russia’s national holiday on June 12.
Kurtulmuş said one positive signal was given after this by the Russian government, which re-installed working permissions for Turkish nationals to be recruited by Turkish companies operating in Russia.
Moscow had previously announced that it will no longer issue working permits for Turkish nationals to be employed by Turkish companies in Russia as part of a comprehensive package of sanctions, in reaction to Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane last year. Russia has repeatedly said Turkey must officially apologize and pay compensation over the downing of its jet and killing two of its pilots in order to restore ties.
