Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right and Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, look at each other during a news conference following their meeting in Istanbul, Monday, Oct. 10, 2016. Putin and Erdogan voiced support for the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey, called Turkish Stream, a project that was suspended amid tensions between the two countries. The pipeline would carry Russian natural gas to Turkey and onto European Union countries. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) (The Associated Press)
MOSCOW – Russia has relaxed import restrictions on Turkish fruit as relations between the countries continue to improve.
Bans on many types of agricultural produce were imposed following last year's downing by Turkish forces of a Russian combat jet on the Turkish-Syrian border.
A document published on a government website Tuesday says restrictions have been dropped for apricots, peaches and various citrus fruits, which make up much of Turkey's fruit exports to Russia.
However, several other food products remain banned. A spokesman for Russia's agricultural regulator told state news agency Tass that restrictions on some vegetables could soon be dropped.
The announcement comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying the fruit restrictions would be relaxed, following a meeting in Istanbul with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
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