Erdogan Says Russia, Israel Developments A 'Win-Win'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that steps taken toward the normalization of relations with Russia and Israel were based on a "win-win" principle.



"We never thought of a one-sided step," Erdogan said Wednesday evening speaking at an iftar fast-breaking dinner in Ankara.



All taken steps were "based on the win-win principle," he said. "In other words, both Turkey and Russia must win, both Turkey and Israel must win."



Early on Wednesday, Erdogan had a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the importance of normalizing relations between the two countries, more than seven months after Turkey downed a Russian jet which crossed from Syrian into Turkish airspace despite several warnings.



Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Russia soured following the downing of the Russian warplane that violated Turkish airspace last November. This prompted the Kremlin to order sanctions on Turkish food products, an end to visa-free travel and a ban on Russian tourists taking package holidays in Turkey.



In addition, Turkey announced this week that it had signed an agreement with Israel to normalize relations between two countries more than six years after Israeli troops stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters, killing 10 Turkish citizens. -