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Lavrov hopes Russia-Turkey contacts to set right tone for normalization

The Russian foreign minister hopes Moscow-Ankara contacts will restore ties
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov  Alexandr Sherbak/TASS
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
© Alexandr Sherbak/TASS

SOCHI, July 1. /TASS/. The latest contacts between Russia and Turkey at the summit level will set the right tone to the normalization of relations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday.

Before the meeting Cavusoglu greeted Russian journalists in Russian.

The two foreign ministers shook hands for about thirty seconds and looked friendly. Cavusoglu was smiling.

"We appreciate the opportunity for discussing relations after the Turkish president’s message to the Russian president and their telephone conversation," Lavrov said. "We do hope this contact will set the right tone for the normalization of relations."

"We will discuss that process today," he added.

In his turn, Cavusoglu said Turkey intends to smooth relations with Russia to the proper level.

"Thank you very much for the invitation and for your hospitality," Cavusoglu said. "Our presidents spoke over the phone, that was a very constructive conversation. Now we need to normalize relations so that they can reach the proper level."