Turk minister says no obstruction implemented on Russian goods yet

Turkey’s state minister Kursad Tuzmen said Russian export goods passing through Turkish customs have been place in "the red channel", a practice at customs in which the goods are not only checked based on papers but also physically, the Anatolian Agency reported earlier.

“Tuzmen made the demand, but we (as the cabinet) rejected it. Regular practices continue at customs points,” Cicek said, adding that they were in favor of solving the problem through dialogue and that the issue would be negotiated with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who will visit Turkey on Tuesday.

"Russian goods are being taken to the red channel. This stance does not aim at escalating tension but to speed up a response from the other side," Kursad Tuzmen said, adding that the goods en route to Russia from third party countries will also be taken into the red channel. �

"We had to retaliate to the obstructions being placed on Turkish trucks. Turkey's demands have been relayed to the Russian party; however, we have not yet received a response... Turkey is acting on the basis of the principle of reciprocity," he also said.

Turkey's move came as hundreds of trucks trying Turkish exports to Russia have been held at the country's checkpoints for up to four weeks.

Russia is expected to lift the customs obstructions against Turkish exports on Monday evening, Mine Kaya, the chairwoman of International Transporters’ Association of Turkey told CNNTurk.

The trade row has raised questions about whether Russia is trying to punish Turkey for allowing U.S. warships carrying aid to Georgia to pass through the Bosporus to the Black Sea.

Russia expressed concern over the presence of NATO ships in the Black Sea saying it had doubts about their true intentions.

Turkey, which governs international transit through the Turkish straits under the 1936 Montreux Convention, allowed U.S. ships USS McFaul and USS Dallas carrying humanitarian aid to Georgia to pass through the Turkish straits.

Also four military ships of the Spanish, German, Polish and U.S. navies sailed through the straits within the framework of a NATO exercise in line with notifications made to Turkey under the Montreux Convention in August. 

Russia was the largest market outside the European Union for Turkish goods last year, with $4.9 billion of exports.

Trade volume between Turkey and Russia, the largest market outside the European Union for Turkish goods last year in 2007, is estimated to reach $38 billion at the end of 2008. Turkish exports to Russia reached $4.7 billion in 2007 with mostly the sales of automobiles, citrus fruits, tomatoes, synthetic thread, textiles and jewelry.

Turkey imported mostly oil, natural gas and mineral oil from Russia worth $23.5 billion for the same period. Turkey meets nearly two-thirds of its total natural gas needs from this country. 

EXPORTERS CALL FOR SOLUTION

Turkish exporters called on Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to sit at the table urgently to resolve the problem as soon as possible, Hurriyet daily reported on Monday.

"This crisis cannot be overcome by leaving it to the bureaucrats or ministers," Hurriyet quoted Oguz Satici, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly chairman as saying on Monday.

"The matter is at boiling point. The two prime ministers should lay hands on the matter and solve the problem," he added.

The reciprocal sanctions taken by both countries would not be a solution for the ongoing problem, Turgut Gur, co-chairman of the Turkish-Russian Business Council also told in a televised phone interview.

"I believe that the problem will only be solved with the steps taken by the premier."