As normalization talks between Turkey and Russia continue, a meeting held between Minister of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Faruk Çelik and his Russian counterpart Alexander Tkachev under the scope of the 2nd World Grain Forum brought the lifting of sanctions formerly imposed on key products of Turkey's agricultural sector after the downing of a Russian fighter jet last November.

With the exports of eggplants, peppers, pomegranates, zucchini and lettuce set to resume, all eyes have turned to Moscow as Turkey awaits a decision regarding sanctions that still remain on 11 additional agricultural products.

During the 2nd World Grain Forum held in the city of Sochi, Minister Çelik came together with his Russian counterpart, with both ministers announcing that an agreement has been reached and the lifting of sanctions on Turkey will commence. In the first stage of the deal, exports of the said agricultural products will resume while other products remaining under the sanction -- including tomatoes -- will be addressed in a meeting between Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow from Dec. 5-6.

Russia's minister of agriculture stressed that the completion of an inspection tour conducted by experts from the Kremlin triggered the developments, assuring that Russia will proceed with fervent, friendlier efforts from now on. Minister Tkachev also said he is hopeful that the two sides will move forward on common grounds, suggesting that reconciliation and flexibility are crucial to both countries which are ready to open new markets for both countries. On the other hand, the head of the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) Sergey Dankvert said Russia has a problem regarding pesticide use, indicating that the Kremlin has reached a turning point and stands to benefit from taking lessons from Turkey on assessing the issue with delicacy and putting new regulations into effect. "[Russia] can take the practices implemented in Turkey's [agricultural sector] and apply them to our situation in hopes that we will move forward together," Dankvert added.

With regards to the examinations of the technical crew, Sergey Dankvert said, "Our experts were in Turkey from Nov. 7-11 and assessed the technical issues. The report will be evaluated in the coming days and we will make a decision on this basis." After Turkey downed a Russian warplane for violating its airspace near the Syrian border on Nov. 24 of last year, the Russian government announced sanctions on Turkey in response, including a ban on exports. The normalization process, which began in June, has paved the way for the lifting of sanctions.