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Turkey not to join anti-Russian sanctions — presidential spokesman

The country is conducting a well-balanced policy in respect of Russia, Ibrahim Kalin said
Chief Adviser and Spokesman for Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Chief Adviser and Spokesman for Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin
© REUTERS/Murad Sezer

ANKARA, June 26. /TASS/. Turkey will not join the West’s anti-Russian sanctions over the Ukrainian crisis, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Sunday.

"We are conducting a well-balanced policy in respect of Russia. <…> We are not imposing sanctions and will not join them. We must observe our own interests. If everyone ruins the bridges, who will be speaking with Russia then? Our economic relations with Russia have such character that sanctions will do more harm to Turkey’s economy than to Russia’s. We have a clear position [on the matter of sanctions]. The West has not accepted it," he said in an interview with the Haberturk television channel.