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Russian, Turkish foreign ministers meet in Serbia over downed jet

Russia has suspended the project in response to Turkey shooting down a Russian jet in Syria, according to Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak.

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Speaking in Baku, Davutoglu said Turkey and Azerbaijan had agreed to complete the project before the original target date of mid-2018.

Turkey insists the jet violated Turkish airspace and has refused to apologize for the the incident.

Moscow says its warplanes have been targeting terrorist groups near Syria’s border with Turkey, while Ankara says the Russian airstrikes have been aimed at moderate militant groups made of ethnic Turks who oppose Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.

The meeting could offer a way to de-escalate a growing crisis between Russian Federation and Turkey. Turkey defended its borders.

“We can not accept, understand or tolerate the recently escalating rhetoric and discourse along with the comments of Russian leaders on Russian TVs which turned into a smear campaign against Turkey”, he said.

“Nobody can blame Turkey for this or wait for any apology”.

“Then, it is necessary for all [involved] countries to conduct the fight only against Daesh in coordination and within the knowledge of each other”.

Turkey, which has been seeking to diversify its sources of imported energy to decrease its dependence on Russian Federation, may buy more than the planned 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas from the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) from Azerbaijan, Davutoglu also said.

Russian Federation has imposed sanctions against Turkish products in retaliation for the downing of its aircraft.

“Those who believe that economic sanctions against an honorable nation like Turkey can bring it to its knees will be mistaken”, Davutoglu said.

“Instead of recriminations let’s meet for discussion”.

Political ties between Russian and Turkey have soured in recent months.

Davutoglu’s plane departed for Ankara after he concluded his talks in Baku.

“We are at a point where we do not want to be right now”, said Cavusoglu.

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Russia has shown signs of softening its rhetoric toward Turkey, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying on Wednesday he would not say no to meeting with his Turkish counterpart while in Belgrade this week.

Russia's Top Diplomat Agrees to Meet With Turk Counterpart