UPDATE: Min: Russia, Turkey to eliminate trade restrictions Oct 20

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IZMIR, Aug 18 (PRIME) -- Russia and Turkey have agreed on almost all trade restrictions issues and will finally solve the problem at an meeting in Kazan slated for October 20, Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci told PRIME on Friday.

“We have solved almost all trade restrictions problems with our Russian colleagues. There are a couple of minor agricultural issues, including meat, dairy products and poultry. We have agreed on all major issues,” he said.

“I am sure we will meet on October 20 at an intergovernmental commission meeting in Kazan to solve the problems completely. Both sides are inclined to (finish the discussion).”

Alexander Novak, Russian energy minister and co-chairman of the Russia–Turkey intergovernmental commission, said that Russia will prepare the documents to abolish the restrictions on imports of all Turkish agricultural products safe for tomatoes by September 13.

“We pursue removal of the restrictions. We have several items left, in particular: tomatoes, zucchinis, lettuce and several other items… We have agreed that the working group on agriculture will meet on September 13 and that the documents needed to remove the restrictions on all remaining types of agricultural products will be finalized by this date,” Novak said.

Russia embargoed supplies of Turkish food in 2016 as an economic measure in response to an attack on a Russian military jet by Turkish air forces. In early June, the governments lifted mutual trade restrictions except Russia’s tomatoes import limitation, which is still in force.

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