Russia’s Black Sea peninsula is ready to restore twin-town relations with the cities of Turkey but first expects Ankara’s consistent steps towards reconciliation with Russia, Crimea’s Deputy Prime Minister Ruslan Balbek said Saturday, TASS reports.
"We are ready to establish twin-town relations with Turkey, but time is needed for this," the Crimean official said. "The apologies were offered with delay and for sure they were made under the influence of external factors," he added.
"The restoration of Crimea’s ties with Turkey’s twin towns will depend on the further steps of the Turkish government after the apologies. The steps need to be consistent," Balbek said.
Twin towns are a form of agreements between towns, cities, regions, states and countries to promote cultural and commercial ties. The pairs of twin towns in Crimea and Turkey are Simferopol and Eskisehir, Yalta and Antalya, Kerch and Canakkale, Sak and Fethiye, Yevpatoria and Silifke.
