Ankara  - Turkey and Russia on Tuesday failed to find a solution to a
growing trade dispute with Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan merely
saying that he hoped the situation would be solved soon.

In what has been seen as retaliation for Turkey allowing US warships
into the Black Sea to deliver aid to Georgia, Russia has imposed new
import controls on lorries carrying Turkish goods that have resulted in
hundreds of Turkish lorries lining up at Russian border points.

"We believe that the problem will be solved," Babacan told reporters
after talks in Istanbul with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Lavrov for his part refused to describe the situation as a problem,
instead saying that Russia has the right to inspect imports.

"There is no discrimination against Turkey," Lavrov said. "We are behind trade with Turkey."

Turkey's Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen on Monday was reported to have
threatened to impose similar inspections on Russian goods entering
Turkey if the matter is not solved soon.

On the specific issue of Russia's incursion into Georgia, Lavrov was
warm to a Turkish idea to form a Caucuses platform where mediation
could take place. No movement is expected soon, however, with Georgian
Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili saying last week that Georgia would
not join such a group until Russian forces leave the country.

The two foreign ministers also agreed to disagree concerning Russia's
decision to recognise the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia
and Abkhazia as independent.

"Turkey gives importance to Georgia's independence and territorial
integrity," Babacan said. "Our views are different on this ... but
views can be different." (dpa)