Turkey-Russia ties will be normalized shortly: Deputy PM

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said on Monday that he believes relations between Ankara and Moscow will be fixed in a short time.

Speaking at a news conference following a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Kurtulmuş said: "Russia and Turkey do not have insurmountable problems and the both countries are positive that they will solve the problem soon."

Relations between Moscow and Ankara went to a historic low after the Turkish military shot down a Russian military aircraft near the border with Syria in November of last year.

Ankara said the Russian warplane had repeatedly ignored the Turkish military warning and violated its airspace before the downing, while Moscow sees the action as “a stab in the back."

Turkish authorities said the nationality of the aircraft was unknown at the moment it was shot down, underlining that if Turkish military had known it was a Russian jet the result would have been different. Four days after the plane crisis, Russia announched punitive sanctions on Turkish products. It has later banned Russian citizens from visiting Turkey.

The sanctions harmed the Russian economy rather than Turkish exporters, and Moscow decided to step back and lift several sanctions.

Turkish deputy PM's remarks came after an statement of Russian President Vladimir Putin signaling a green light on normalization of relations with Ankara.

Putin said during his visit to Greece that he wanted to fix relations with Turkey and expected the very first step from Ankara authority.

The Deputy PM also said that neither country could afford to sacrifice its relationship with the other, adding he thinks ties with Russia will be fixed in a "short while."

Turkey, Israel still discussing normalization

While answering about the recent reports claiming Turkey and Israel would sign an agreement for normalizing ties, Kurtulmuş said both countries are still discussing the process.

Officials from Turkey and Israel are holding more meetings to normalize relations and two of Ankara's three conditions for reviving ties have been met, Kurtulmus said.

Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Kurtulmus said lifting Israel's embargo on the Gaza Strip was important for normalization.

Israel has ruled out ending a sea and air blockade of the Palestinian territory.

It has also sought an official apology and compensation for the bereaved.

The erstwhile allies have been at loggerheads since Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish ship in an aid flotilla to Gaza, killing 10 Turks in May 2010.

New EU minister will continue talks on Turkey-EU visa free deal

Kurtulmuş said that Turkey had already fulfilled almost all conditions for getting visa-free travel to Europe. He said that new EU Affairs Minister Ömer Çelik will meet European officials in Brussels next week to discuss the visa free travel in technocrat level.

Maraa-Jarabulus line is important for Turkey

Regarding the ongoing clashes in northern Syria, the Turkish government spokesperson said that there are games inside games being played in Syria. Turkey feels very uncomfortable with these games, he said and added that the Maraa-Jarabulus line is vital for Turkey. Turkey will take all steps to make safe this line from Daesh and other terrorist organizations in the region, he added.

The first priority for Turkey to protect its soil, he underlined.

Government wants presidency bill in parliament soon

Kurtulmuş also said that Turkey's new government wants to present to parliament as soon as possible a draft law introducing a presidential system.

“I hope that our draft law for the presidential system will be presented to the TBMM (parliament) with in short time," he said.

He ruled out any plan for a snap election, as this would be disrespectful to voters.

President Tayyip Erdoğan, who has more than 50 percent support from his citizens, aims to establish an executive presidency in Turkey with strong powers akin to those of the US and French heads of state. Opponents say this would lead to greater authoritarianism in the country.