Vilnius’ diplomats are working to unblock a Turkish shipment of 20 lung ventilators bound for Lithuania, after the Turkish president restricted exports of protective medical equipment.
“We understand Turkey's position in the wake of the coronavirus, as many countries in the world, including Lithuania, have introduced restrictions on exporting medical supplies [...] without the government's special permission," Rasa Jakilaitiene, spokeswoman for the Lithuanian foreign minister, told BNS.
"We are awaiting the Turkish government's response," she added.
Lrytas.lt reported last Friday that a shipment of lung ventilators bound for Lithuania, worth 350,000 euro, were stranded in Turkey.
Lithuanian company Limeta had ordered 20 ventilators from a Turkish producer to be distribted to medical establishments in Kretinga, Jonava, Elektrėnai and other cities.
On Monday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius and Vice Minister Neris Germanas discussed the issue with their Turkish counterparts, accordig to Jakilaitienė.
Lithuanian diplomats in Turkey have been trying to resolve the situation for the past two weeks, she added.
Limeta's representatives later learned that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had ordered lung ventilators to be taken for the state's needs, according to lrytas.lt.
On March 4, the Turkish president ordered to restrict the export of protective medical equipment.
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