FILE: Istanbul, Turkey - Aug 23, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of Turkish national flag, building
2. Various of pedestrians

Istanbul, Turkey - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Imran Demir, Professor, Department of International Relations, Marmara University:
"It's a bargaining process. It's a bargaining process between Turkey and the United States. And as a part of the bargaining, each side has a demand. They are making a demand from each other."

FILE: Istanbul, Turkey - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Ferries
5. Pedestrians walking on bridge

Istanbul, Turkey - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nadir Devlet, Professor, Political Science and International Relations Department, Istanbul Aydin University (partially overlaid with shot 7):
"They will restore, because both sides need each other. But for a time being, we will have this rather difficult period."

FILE: Istanbul, Turkey - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
7. Traffic
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++

FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Exact Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Various of White House
9. U.S. national flag
10. Capitol Hill

It is hard for Turkey and the United States to restore their relations in a short time, said experts.

One of the obstacles is whether or not Turkey will release American Pastor Andrew Brunson, the experts said.

The next hearing of U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson, who was moved to house arrest for espionage in July, will be held on Friday, ahead of the elections for the U.S. congress. The United States is watching it closely.

When asked about the progress of the case, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed on Thursday that Turkey is a country under the rule of law. Everyone must respect the decisions of the court and the Turkish government will not interfere in judicial decisions.

However, according to U.S. media reports, Turkey and the United States have recently intensified talks over the issue of releasing the detained U.S. citizen.

A Turkish political analyst said that the Brunson case has become a bargaining chip for Turkey and the United States. Whether Brunson will be released mainly depends on whether a compromise is reached during the negotiations between the two sides, he said.

"It's a bargaining process. It's a bargaining process between Turkey and the United States. And as a part of the bargaining, each side has a demand. They are making a demand from each other," said Imran Demir, professor of International Relations, Marmara University.

Some Turkish analysts said the Turkey-U.S. relations will undergo a period of hard time. It is difficult for the relations to turn for the better in a short time. But, with many common interests in such areas as geopolitics and security, it is not easy for them to quit partnership and go their own ways.

"They will restore, because both sides need each other. But for a time being, we will have this rather difficult period," said Nadir Devlet, professor of Political Sciences and International Relations, Istanbul Aydin University.

The United States has announced imposition of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum after imposing sanctions on two Turkish ministers in the wake of the disputes over Brunson.

Turkey has not only refused to release Brunson but also given a tit-for-tat, adopting countermeasures against the economic pressures imposed by the United States.