Principle of reciprocity exists in Turk-Russia relations

Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that there were some problems with the movement of Turkish exports to Russia, and that a law of reciprocity was in effect between states.

"Therefore, if a country behaves unjustly against us, we have the right to impose similar sanctions against that country," Sahin told reporters after Aug. 30 Victory Day celebrations in the Mediterranean city of Antalya.

Sahin said that negative developments in the Caucasus had affected the entire region, and expressed Turkey's determination to continue working for peace and tranquility.

The minister said that Turkey was facing problems in its exports to Russia, and expressed his belief that common sense would prevail.

More than 100 trucks, transporting mostly consumer goods such as clothing, food and construction materials, are being held up at customs posts for up to four weeks at border crossings in Novorossiysk, Sochi and Taganrog, on Ukraine's border with Russia.

Turkish exporters face the risk losing the market due to delayed orders and are also obliged to pay a waiting bill, as much as 1,000 euros per truck per day.

The Turkish Trade Ministry had earlier estimated that the truck delays could cost Turkey as much as $3 billion in export revenues.

NATO SHIPS

On the NATO ships, Sahin reiterated the remarks of NATO secretary general that the ships would abide by the agreement governing the passage of foreign warships through the Turkish straits and leave the Black Sea within 21 days, and said that this statement must be respected.

Russia had warned Turkey that it would be held responsible if the U.S. ships currently in the Black Sea stayed beyond the 21 days allowed under the Montreux Convention and said the entrance of  NATO warships to the Black Sea was a serious threat to its security.

NATO warships belonging to NATO members Spain, Poland and Germany, and U.S together with Turkey attended in Black Sea for long-planned exercises and routine visits to ports in Romania and Bulgaria. While, two more ships of the U.S. navy, which brought humanitarian aid to Georgia also exist in Black Sea at the moment.

Sahin also said that the problem should be solved peacefully as soon as possible.