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Russian lawmaker and Turkish ambassador discuss restoring inter-parliamentarian contacts

The Turkish ambassador also informed Pushkov about the latest developments in Turkey and different aspects of Ankara’s relations with Brussels and Washington

MOSCOW, July 29. /TASS/. Chairman of Russian State Duma’s International Affairs Committee Alexey Pushkov and Turkey’s Ambassador to Moscow Umit Yardim have discussed restoring inter-parliamentarian contacts between the two countries, the committee’s press service said on Friday.

"In the light of the upcoming visit of the Turkish president to Russia and improving Russian-Turkish relations, the Turkish ambassador also raised the issue of inter-parliamentarian contacts between the Turkish parliament and (Russian) State Duma," the press service said. "The sides discussed concrete steps that can be made in the next few months to resume and expand these contacts," the press service added.

The Turkish ambassador also informed Pushkov about the latest developments in Turkey and different aspects of Ankara’s relations with Brussels and Washington.

On June 27, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, told reporters Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent Russian President Vladimir Putin a message in which he apologized for the downed Su-24 plane and "underscored the readiness to do everything possible for restoration of the traditionally friendly relations between Turkey and Russia."

On June 29, the presidents had a telephone conversation - first in the past seven months, where they agreed to consider a meeting. After the conversation, Putin ordered the government to begin discussions with Ankara for resuming cooperation in trade and other spheres.

The Turkish Air Force’s F-16 fighter on November 24, 2015 shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M bomber, involved in Russia's antiterrorism operation in Syria, that Ankara claimed violated the country’s airspace on the border with Syria.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the Su-24M was above Syrian territory and "there was no violation of Turkey’s airspace." Pilot Oleg Peshkov was killed by militants from the ground after ejecting, the second pilot was rescued and taken to the Russian base. The incident resulted in the severing of nearly all trade and economic ties between the two countries. Ankara refused to apologize for the downed jet and death of the pilot. Moscow put the blame for the incident on the Turkish authorities.