Russia expects Turkey’s answer July 26 on aviation security for resuming charter flights

MOSCOW, July 26. /TASS/. The Russian Ministry of Transport has sent to Turkey its general position on aviation security issues for taking a decision on resuming charter flights to Turkey. Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters that the answer could be given to Moscow on Tuesday during the Turkish delegation’s visit. "As regards the flights’ resumption - it’s not the first visit of the Turkish delegation, the two sides’ aviation security experts have already met and held negotiations. We sent our consolidated position outlining the tasks that Turkey should fulfil in this sphere, in our view," he said. According to Sokolov, the Russian side is now awaiting a response, which may be passed to it on Tuesday, July 26, during the Turkish delegation’s visit to Moscow. The sides are planned to hold negotiations at the Russian government on Tuesday. According to Sokolov, his working schedule for Tuesday so far does not include a meeting with the Turkish delegation representatives. "We are awaiting the Turkish side’s response. Maybe they will bring the answer on Tuesday. As soon as we get the answer, then, perhaps the government will take the corresponding decision," Sokolov said. The minister said previously that the documents on the resumption of charges flights were submitted to the Russian government. However, the Cabinet has so far not taken the final decision and carries out an additional analysis of the situation, he added. To resume charter flights to Turkey, the Russian government should take a corresponding decision. The permission to perform charter flights after the document’s adoption will be issued by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), the Transport Ministry said earlier. According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, the government expects Turkey to provide security guarantees, after which will take a decision on the resumption of charter flights. On June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin cancelled the ban on charter flights between the Russian Federation and the Turkish Republic by signing the amendments to the decree "On measures to ensure the national security of the Russian Federation and protection of citizens of the Russian Federation from criminal and other illegal actions and on the use of special economic measures against the Turkish Republic." President also requested to assume measures to lift the ban on chartered flights between the two countries. The decree on sanctions against Turkey, amended by the Russian head of state, was signed November 28, 2015, in response to downing of the Russian Su-24 bomber by the Turkish Air Forces. President imposed a ban on chartered flights to Turkey and sale of travel packages to that country. In addition to banning charter flights and sale of travel packages, Russian restricted the import of certain Turkish goods, banning the import of fruit and vegetables, which made the bulk of Turkish exports. Read more