Yuri Pilipson, the Fourth European Director of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, answered the questions of Russia Today IA.

Question: How did the flow of Russian tourists to Bulgaria and Turkey increase after resuming regular flights to these countries? What recommendations does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs give for such trips?
 

Answer: As you know, in April 2021, there was a significant increase in the incidence of COVID-19 in Turkey. In this regard, the Operational Headquarters for the Prevention of the Importation and Spread of a New Coronavirus Infection in the Russian Federation made a decision to impose temporary restrictions on air traffic between our countries. For the same period, the sale of a tourist product was suspended in relation to Turkey.
 

The active measures taken by the Turkish side to normalize the sanitary and epidemiological situation in June made it possible to return to the discussion of the issue of restoring flights. On June 17-20, 2021, an interdepartmental delegation of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Rospotrebnadzor and Rosturizm was in Antalya where they analyzed the situation on the spot and got acquainted with the ongoing set of measures to ensure the safety and health of the vacationers. The results of the inspection made it possible to come up with the positive conclusion, and on June 22, bilateral air traffic was resumed. Our tourists again got the opportunity to visit the hospitable resorts of the Turkish coast. It is still too early to speak about any estimates regarding the flow of tourists to Turkey, but already now we can say that the traditionally high interest of Russians in this direction remains this year as well.
 

In the current "Covid" times, the recommendations for all foreign trips are general: carefully follow the current rules for entering a particular country, if possible, take out insurance in case of the need to provide medical care in case of coronavirus disease. The epidemiological picture remains complex, and such a possibility, unfortunately, cannot be ruled out.
 

Question: How is the safety of Russian tourists in Turkey ensured, especially against the background of reports of cases of infection with the Delta Plus strain of coronavirus in the country?
 

Answer: The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, together with other relevant departments, since June 2020 has introduced mandatory certification of hotels and other enterprises of the tourism sector under the Safe Tourism program, which provides for compliance with separately prescribed sanitary and epidemiological criteria. Requirements include the mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing, hotel occupancy control and other measures to ensure protection against coronavirus infection.
 

Before the start of the summer season, the certification of hotels was carried out, most of which are located in Antalya, as well as restaurants and cafes, vehicles involved in the transportation of tourists.

Given the difficult situation associated with forest fires in the southern regions of Turkey, we strongly recommend that potential tourists closely monitor the situation in the places they have chosen for recreation, before traveling, familiarize themselves with the recommendations of the Russian Foreign Ministry and our foreign missions on the relevant Internet resources.
 

Question: When is the purchase of the second S-400 regiment planned by Turkey? At what stage are the negotiations on this issue?
 

Answer: We note with satisfaction the ongoing build-up of Russian-Turkish partnership on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. Military-technical cooperation is no exception. The implementation of joint projects, first of all, the delivery of the first regiment of the S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile system to Ankara in 2019 demonstrates the determination of our countries to comprehensively strengthen cooperation in this area. We see serious potential for this. We appreciate the position of our Turkish partners, who are acting in accordance with the national objectives of ensuring defense capabilities, despite open external pressure.
 

Our relevant departments are in contact on the further development of bilateral military-technical cooperation. Let the specialists work in peace, there is no need for vanity here.

 

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