Moscow is ready to dialogue with Ankara on the issue of the Crimean Tatars, said Thursday the head of the international Department of the state Duma Alexei Pushkov.

"The relationship we have (with Turkey) very positive. Of course, there are the issues that concern them - for example, the situation of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea. We do not reject the discussion of this topic. I dream that the Turkish side is correctly assesses, in a sense, We are quite open to dialogue, " he said at a press conference.

"I think that this question is rather, will be the cooperation area than a sphere of contradictions," he added.

in Crimea there are about 260 thousand Crimean Tatars. After joining the Crimea to Russia in March 2014 in practice 100% of Crimean Tatars received passports of citizens of Russia, they are also widely represented in government. According to the Constitution of Crimea, the status of state languages assigned to Russian, Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages.

sections: Politics