UPDATE: Turkey sends condolences to Russia over downed plane

(Adds comments in last paragraph)

MOSCOW, Jun 27 (PRIME) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin expressing his condolences over the death of the downed plane’s pilot, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

Turkey had no intention to down Russia’s Su-24 bomber in November 2015, Erdogan said in the letter adding he was “sorry.”

Turkey did not want to sour relations with Russia and is ready to take all necessary steps to normalize its relations with the country, as Russia has always been Turkey’s “friend and strategic partner.”

Relations between the two countries worsened after Turkey downed a Russian Su-24 jet in November 2015. In response, Russia introduced economic restrictions against Turkey, including a ban on some food imports and a restriction of construction companies’ operation in the country, and also abolished a visa-free regime with Turkey.

The condolences give grounds to hope that tourist relations between Russia and Turkey will gradually restore, Maya Lomidze, executive director of the Association of Tour Operators, told PRIME.

End