Turkish, Russian foreign ministers to meet in Belgrade

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of an Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe conference in Belgrade, a Russian source told Interfax News Agency.

The meeting is the first face-to-face meeting between high-level Turkish and Russian officials since the downing of a Russian jet on November 24.

Lavrov had said on December 2 that he would “not refuse” to meet his Turkish counterpart in Belgrade later this week.

Cavusoglu proposed the meeting in Belgrade on November 27. However, the Russian side, at the time, had not yet confirmed that the meeting would take place.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will also attend the meeting in Belgrade.

Ties between Ankara and Moscow soured after a Russian bomber SU-24 was shot down by a Turkish F-16 along the Syrian-Turkish border, allegedly for violating Turkish airspace.

Sources: MENA