Russia will not have its economy fit interests of other countries, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with the Vesti on Saturday weekly television program in a comment to the emerging process of restoring trade and economic relations with Turkey.
The resuming of economic relations as well as settlement of a number of political issues, related to that, including visas and some others, would be divided into stages, the prime minister said.
“Let us not run too fast, we shall be able to have all those negotiations with the Turkish counterparts,” he said.
“But – as I said at the meeting of government on Thursday, and what I would like to tell you – clearly we would not change deliberately the economy to fit whatever country, including our major trade partner, Turkey,” Medvedev said.
The prime minister continued by saying formerly Turkey took up to five percent of the Russian trade turnover, which is a high level. After the crisis in relations with Russia, “certain economic niches were taken by other countries,” he said referring to supplies of agricultural products and tourism.
“Of course, as for those who have come with good will, so to say, to our market, we shall not be taking decisions to remove them or to give to them a signal that now are returning the Turkish supplies of products, goods or services… No, everything will remain as it is.”
This approach is also applicable to the European Union, he said. “For us, it remains a big counterpart, but the turnover has slumped now, and a number of economic niches, which used to be taken by supplies from the European Union and some other countries, are taken by other countries.”
While commenting on relations with Turkey, Medvedev said the government would have negotiations with Turkish counterparts. “They will involve both ministers, and deputy prime ministers, and myself, or course.”
First of all, “we are speaking about the opportunity to be given to our people, who enjoy spending holidays in Turkey, to manage it within the current tourist season.” “On condition one major term is observed: Turkey has suffered a terrorist attack, and, unfortunately, was not the first there, thus the issue of security still should become a priority,” Medvedev said.