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Russia may lift agricultural restrictions from Turkey by October 20

Russia and Turkey will the restrictions on September 13

© Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS

IZMIR, August 18. /TASS/. Russia and Turkey will discuss cancellation of restrictions on deliveries of Turkish agricultural produce to the Russian market, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters on Friday.

"The first consultation [on lifting of restrictions - TASS] was held at the Izmir international fair yesterday. An agreement was reached to hold a meeting of an agricultural working group within the intergovernmental commission framework on September 13," the minister said.

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"Liberalization proposals on tomatoes will be prepared separately but contract parameters will be worked out between agricultural ministries," Novak said.

Russia may fully lift the restrictions by October 20, he said. "Yes, certainly [they may be lifted by October 20 - TASS]," the minister said. "We are confident everything will be clear by the intergovernmental commission meeting," Novak said responding to a question whether restrictions can be abandoned by the commission meeting to be held in Russia on October 20, 2017.

It was reported earlier Russia’s Tatarstan will host the bilateral intergovernmental commission meeting on October 20.

Russia has currently lifted nearly all restrictions on import of Turkish foods, except tomatoes, pepper, pomegranates, aubergines, lettuce and Iceberg salad, marrows and pumpkins.

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