Russian min disappointed by Turkey’s position on ag supplies

MOSCOW, Mar 23 (PRIME) -- The Agriculture Ministry is quite surprised and disappointed by the Turkish position on imports of Russian agricultural products, the ministry said late Wednesday citing Minister Alexander Tkachyov.

“We have been recently receiving contradictory information from Ankara concerning public statements by representatives of the Turkish authorities and experts about restrictions of Russian agricultural supplies to Turkey. Russia’s Agriculture Ministry is very surprised and disappointed by such position of the Turkish colleagues, as both sides have stressed the importance of normalizing bilateral trade over the past six months,” Tkachyov was quoted as saying.

Ankara’s move could lead to a complete halt of supplies of a number of Russian agricultural products to Turkey, namely of wheat, corn, unrefined sunflower oil and seed meal, beans and rice, he said.

Earlier in March, Russia’s National Association of Exporters of Agricultural Products complained to Tkachyov that Turkey had stopped license issuance on imports of wheat, corn, sunflower seed meal and oil.

The Turkish Economy Ministry denied in a statement that this prohibition took place.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said late Wednesday that the Turkish authorities’ actions against Russian agricultural suppliers were impeding restoration of full-fledged relations.

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