Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has announced that bilateral relations between his country and Russia and Egypt will soon return to normal.
Speaking on a program on state-run TV station TRT Haber, Yıldırım said that the Turkish president and the Russian president will hold a telephone conversation on Wednesday or Thursday, noting that ending the crisis with Russia has begun.
The prime minister pointed out that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a letter of apology to the Russian president for shooting down a Russian aircraft, stressing that a desire to reduce tensions is mutual.
“We have expressed our regret and we have said that if necessary we are ready to pay compensation. We want to normalise relations. This is not a unilateral desire, but a mutual desire. The problem is being resolved,” he added.
The crisis between Turkey and Russia erupted last year when Ankara shot down a Russian plane insisting it had strayed into its airspace and ignored repeated warnings. Russia insisted it did not cross the border and accused Turkey of a “planned provocation”.
Yildirim also said that he expected relations with Egypt to return to normal.
“The issue about Egypt is very clear. Removing Mohamed Morsi from power was a blow to democracy. Our President [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan] announced to the world that we do not accept Morsi’s removal from power,” he said.
Yildirim added: “We are in the same region with Egypt. We cannot cut all ties with them even if we wanted to. We have geographical connection. That’s why we lay emphasis on the change of regime there and unlawful punishments given to Morsi and his supporters.”
“Nevertheless, there are no obstacles on trade [between the two countries]. There may be a basis for normalisation in the future. Negotiations can be held between ministers [of Egypt and Turkey]. We are ready for this,” he said.
The prime minister’s announcement comes as Turkey and Israel announced an agreement to restore all diplomatic ties.