Russia-Turkey normalization intact after coup plot

By Ebru Sengul

ANKARA (AA) - The normalization process between Turkey and Russia, which started before the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, remains unaffected, said Igor Mityakov, press secretary of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ankara.

Speaking exclusively to Anadolu Agency, Mityakov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed ministries and other institutions to meet with their Turkish counterparts to consult on foreign economic ties after the commencement of the normalization process in Russian-Turkish relations.

"Within this framework, consultations took place on July 14 in Moscow concerning the resumption of charter flights between the two countries and the development of cooperation in the tourism field," he noted.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary also discussed issues on bilateral relations on the same day. Aviation talks with the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation will continue in Moscow next week as previously planned, according to Mityakov.

After the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian jet over the Turkey-Syria border last November, relations between the two countries were suspended until it was resolved on June 29 through a letter and in subsequent telephone calls between the leaders.

He reiterated that Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed via telephone last Sunday after attempted coup, to arrange a face-to-face meeting as soon as possible.

"Already, these meetings that will take place in Russia are planned to be held in the first 10 days of August. The exact date and place of the meetings are currently being approved through diplomatic channels. So the normalization of relations between Turkey and Russia, which started before the military coup attempt in Turkey, continues," he added.

At least 246 people, including members of the security forces and civilians, were martyred in Istanbul and Ankara, and more than 2,100 were wounded in protests against the attempted coup.

Erdogan and Putin held a phone call in which Putin gave his support to Turkey and said he stood by Turkey’s elected government and offered his condolences to the victims of the failed coup.