Turkish tomatoes in Russian warehouses appeared in mid-November. However, a month after the Russian Federation resumed their imports, Ankara continues to express dissatisfaction with the terms of the contract and threatens to stop the supply of tomatoes. These contradictions reflect the general state of economic relations between the two countries, Turkish experts, interviewed by DW.

Moscow and Ankara were able to achieve a "private and temporary" compromise in the conflict around the importation of Turkish tomatoes into the Russian Federation in late October. Then, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russian and Turkish profile agencies had provisionally agreed to supply 50,000 tons of Turkish tomatoes to Russia - and not from the beginning of December, as expected, but a month earlier.

Moscow imposed a food embargo after the incident with the downed Ankara in November 2015 by the Russian Su-24 bomber. After the apology of the Turkish side, almost all restrictions were gradually lifted. But the new conditions for export of tomatoes to Russia do not suit Turkish producers and exporters. Their dissatisfaction, in particular, is caused by the restriction of the volume of supplies and the fact that only three Turkish companies were allowed to import products.

The indignation of Turkey mainly caused the decision of the Russian side to independently choose suppliers. Initially, Russia named four Turkish companies that met the criteria established by it and received permission to supply 50 thousand tons of tomatoes to the Russian market. Then the list of firms was reduced to three. Ankara agreed with these requirements, but shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock raised a request to Russia to reconsider its decision. Turkish exporters, meanwhile, reacted to what is happening much more emotional than the government of their country, almost accusing Russia of holding the regime of a latent embargo.

"The volumes of deliveries abroad of the products of these three companies constitute only one percent of the annual volume of exports. In this sense, they are not potential exporters. So we - the people working in this sector - do not understand the decision of Russia, "says Kavak.

The expert is sure that the Turkish authorities should take a principled position. According to him, Russia plays a very important role in the Turkish export of fruits and vegetables, and Ankara can not ignore this fact. "Half of our exports go to Russia. And, nevertheless, we should tell the Russian side: "On these terms, we will not sell you tomatoes," the source said..

Chairman of the Association of Exporters of Istanbul Latif Yunal said that Russia's actions cause concern for all Turkish companies engaged in export. He hopes that both countries will be able to come to an agreement, and Russia will change its decision. "While Moscow and Ankara sought to resolve the crisis in their relations, the tomatoes turned into a political symbol and political sacrifice," says Latif Yunal.

Before Russia imposed economic sanctions against Turkey, the total annual export of Turkish tomatoes was 500,000 tons, 80 percent of which Turkey supplied to Russia.