Turkey could hit Russian agricultural sector harder but doesn't: Minister
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Turkey “could hit theRussianagricultural sector harder” than Russia’s sanctions have hit Turkey by canceling wheat imports from its northern neighbor but has chosen not to Work and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik said in a televised interview on Jan. 31.
Russia imposed economic and trade sanctions against Turkey amid a serious diplomatic crisis after aRussianwarplane was downed by Turkey on Nov. 24 2015.
“Russia has canceled fresh fruit and vegetable imports from Turkey as of Jan. 1.Russiaoriginally imported around $750 million worth of fresh fruit and vegetables from Turkey annually. On the other hand our imports fromRussiain only one agricultural product namely wheat exceed $1.1 billion. If we halt wheat imports from Russia we would hit theRussianagricultural sector [harder] thanRussiadoes our sector. We however do not do this. It is not good to make farmers pay for what has happened” Çelik said during an interview with Habertürk TV as quoted by Reuters on Feb. 1.
Meanwhile Turkey said aRussianwarfighter violated Turkish airspace on Jan. 29 despite the pilot being repeatedly warned in bothRussianand English.NATOand the United States confirmed the latest violation withNATOSecretary-General Jens Stoltenberg immediately urgingRussianot to escalate tension by continuing its airspace violations.Russiahas denied that it violated Turkey’s airspace on Jan. 29 just as it denied the violation on Nov. 24 2015.
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