On November 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to increase national security and introduce economic measures against Ankara. The measures, which ban or restrict the activities of Turkish organizations in Russia and prohibit Russian employers to hire Turkish citizens, are due to take effect from January 1, 2016, Sputnik reported.
The measures also target charter air travel between the two countries, as well as banning or restricting the import of certain goods from Turkey.
"Our relations with Russia are not completely broken. I always say that two countries should not cut off diplomatic ties with each other… The relationship with Russia is continuing in various fields, in the fields of energy, food, and bilateral trade and so on," Erdogan said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV channel.
Recalling early December's meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, Erdogan expressed hope in seeing more such meetings, including the involvement of mediating third parties.
Tensions mounted between Russia and Turkey after a Turkish F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-24.
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