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  • ANKARA: Turkey, Russia To Work On Simplified Customs To Overcome Tra

    TURKEY, RUSSIA TO WORK ON SIMPLIFIED CUSTOMS TO OVERCOME TRADE ROW

    Hurriyet
    Sept 2 2008
    Turkey

    ISTANBUL - Russia and Turkey are working on a simplified customs
    system in order to overcome the ongoing trade row between the
    countries. Russian and Turkish foreign ministers also emphasized
    the friendship and significant cooperation between the two
    neighbors. (UPDATED)

    The Russian Foreign Minister paid a one-day working visit to Turkey
    on Tuesday where he met his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan in
    Istanbul. The two ministers had discussed the trade row, recent
    developments in Caucasus, and Iran and Iraq.

    Russia was not discriminating against Turkey in the trade relations
    between the countries, hit by a recent customs dispute, Lavrov told
    the joint conference with Babacan, adding Russian customs authorities
    were working to simplify their bilateral customs system.

    Hundreds of trucks transporting Turkish exports to Russia have been
    held at the country's checkpoints for up to four weeks, costing
    exporters billions of dollars in losses.

    The row has triggered speculation that Russia is trying to punish
    Turkey for allowing U.S. warships carrying aid to Georgia to pass
    through the Bosporus to the Black Sea.

    Lavrov, however, denied that stricter Russian controls on Turkish
    imports are politically motivated, underlining Russia's commitment
    to reach the 25-billion-dollars trade volume target in 2008.

    He said some countries had breached customs regulations prompting
    Russian authorities to take more stringent measures.

    Babacan said he believed that trade problems between Turkey and
    Russia would be overcome with a flexible attitude and the cooperation
    of Russia.

    "We discussed in a sincere and constructive way the problems caused
    by keeping and checking Turkish products at Russian customs gates
    longer than usual," Babacan told the conference.

    SUPPORT TO CAUCASIAN PLATFORM

    Russia also reiterated its support to the Turkey-sponsored idea of
    forming a Caucasian stability and partnership platform.

    "We have also agreed to further develop cooperations (in the Black Sea)
    such as the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)", he said.

    Turkey had offered to form a Caucasus alliance to contribute peaceful
    solutions to the conflicts in the region. The alliance is envisaged
    to bring together Russia, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,
    though the task seems to be hard given the bilateral issues between
    these countries.

    Lavrov said some conditions should be met in order to take part in
    such a formation. A similar comment was also made by the Georgian
    Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili who met Babacan on Sunday.

    CRITICISM FOR NATO

    Turkish and Russian top diplomats also agreed to maintain security
    and peace in the region, adding that international responsibilities
    were violated and attacks were staged on South Ossetia.

    "Under those circumstances recognition of independence of Ossetia and
    Abkhazia was the only way out," Lavrov added. He said recognition
    would not only protect the security of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
    but also it would be the only alternative for those people to pursue
    their existence.

    He also reiterated Russia's support for sending an international
    police mission to Georgia to help maintain security around South
    Ossetia and the similarly secessionist region of Abhkazia.

    "We are in favor of an international police mission in the security
    zone, especially in the framework of the OSCE (Organization for
    Security and Co-operation in Europe)," the Russian minister said.

    Lavrov criticized NATO members for arming Georgia ahead of last months
    conflict over a rebel region.

    "International agreements were violated when Georgia was given
    arms... In practice, it was NATO countries who were arming (Georgian
    President Mikheil) Saakashvili," Lavrov said.

    Lavrov said Moscow had no intention of keeping its forces there
    "forever".

    STRESSING GOOD RELATIONS

    Both ministers also underlined the relations between two countries
    based on friendship and cooperation.

    Babacan said the two countries' have been cooperating on energy,
    and hoped that new joint projects would be implemented in the future.

    "Turkey has a key position in transferring oil and natural gas of
    Russia and other producer companies in the region to consumer markets
    safely and economically," he said.

    Lavrov said the relations between two countries are intact and
    acknowledged Turkey's responsibilities as a NATO member.
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