- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Russo-Turkish Ties: Old Wounds Healed, New Projects Open Door to Development

© AP Photo / Alexander Zemlianichenko, PoolRussian President Vladimir Putin, right, and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands prior to their talks in Putin's residence in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan shake hands prior to their talks in Putin's residence in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Wednesday, May 3, 2017 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The recent high-level summit between the Russian and Turkish leaders in Sochi shows that old "wounds" have healed while the two countries are about to reach new heights in bilateral relations, Turkish commentators told Sputnik, referring to the Akkuyu atomic project and the purchase of Russia's S-400 Triumf system to Ankara.

The July 2016 coup attempt, the Astana peace negotiations on Syria and the agreement on the acquisition of the Russia-made S-400 anti-aircraft system by Ankara have played a substantial role in bringing Turkey and Russia together, Turkish journalist Cenk Baslamis told Sputnik.

"In the last 10-15 years, the concept of 'business visit' has gradually substituted the term 'official visit' [in Russo-Turkish relations] and has come to the fore. Such meetings put aside formalities, and focus primarily on results in negotiations," Baslamis highlighted commenting on the recent summit between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

The Turkish journalist underscored that there have been friendly and sincere relations as well as a special "chemistry" between Erdogan and Putin for over 13 years.

"Apart from the relatively brief period of the crisis that followed the incident with the [Russian Su-24] aircraft, it can be said that these relations have lasted from the very beginning to this day," Baslamis told Sputnik Turkey.

Troops parade with Turkish flag on August 30, 2013 in Ankara during celebrations for the 91st anniversary of Victory Day, with ceremonies held at Ataturk's Mausoleum known as Anitkabir in Ankara, Turkey - Sputnik International
How Moscow Convinced Ankara to Join Russo-Iranian Axis in Syria
On November 24, 2015, a Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24M warplane in the Syrian airspace near the Syria-Turkey border. The incident led to the Russo-Turkish crisis, which was settled after Erdogan apologized for the downing of the Russian jet in June 2016.

After the attempted coup in Turkey which occurred on July 15, 2016, relations between Turkey and Western countries have become tense, Baslamis recalled. However, simultaneously, the process of active cooperation between Ankara and Moscow has resumed. The Turkish journalist drew attention to the fact that Putin was among those who immediately offered support to Ankara after the coup attempt.

Baslamis noted that "it may be somewhat premature to say that the relationship has reached a higher level than it was before the crisis," but if one compares the situation at end of 2015 and the current status quo, no one would deny that the two countries have done a great job over the last two years.

Russo-Turkish Relations Have Reached New Heights

In contrast to Baslamis, Turkish lawmaker and parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission member Nejat Kocer believes that the frequent meetings between the presidents shows that the Russo-Turkish relationship has reached new heights.

"Paradoxically, the crisis [which Russia and Turkey have managed to overcome] contributed to the improvement in the relationship of the two leaders," Kocer said. "We have passed through a difficult period, but at the moment we see a rapidly developing positive process in bilateral relations. The wounds have healed."

Rosatom's pavilion at the GOSZAKAZ – For Transparent Public Procurement 13th Forum & Exhibition in Moscow - Sputnik International
World
Russia's Rosatom to Start Turkish Akkuyu NPP Project Implementation Shortly
According to Kocer, everything is in place for Ankara and Moscow to realize their "dream" to achieve a trade turnover of 100 billion dollars. The issue was discussed by the presidents during the summit. He suggested that the tourism, trade and energy policies will also be advanced.

The parliamentarian also mentioned the joint Russo-Turkish Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project and highlighted the fact that Erdogan invited Putin to attend the ceremony to pour the first concrete at the atomic station.

"The existence of a nuclear power plant in Turkey is an indispensable condition for the development of the country's energy sector," Kocer stressed. "Turkey needs to make a breakthrough in the diversification of its energy policy. We look forward to the foundation of the Akkuyu NPP."

The Turkish politician believes that "the development of mutually beneficial relations without creating the prerequisites for the emergence of tension, the strengthening of trade ties based on the protection and respect for mutual interests are of high importance" for both Turkey and Russia.

Additionally, Kocer emphasized the Russo-Turkish partnership in the Black Sea and stressed the necessity of close collaboration between Moscow and Ankara in the region.

"All these indicate that Turkish-Russian relations have all the preconditions to enter a qualitatively new level of development," the parliamentarian suggested.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, at a news conference following the Russian-Turkish talks in Ankara - Sputnik International
World
Putin: Russia-Turkey Relations Restored Almost in Full
On November 13 a high level summit between Turkish and Russian leaders took place in Sochi. Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Vladimir Putin said that Russia-Turkey ties "could be considered to be almost fully restored," while President Erdogan said that the bilateral ties are developing "every single minute."

Among other issues, the presidents discussed the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, the construction of the Akkuyu NPP and the acquisition of Russia's advanced S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft system by Turkey.

On September 29, Russian presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin confirmed that Turkey had made an up-front payment for the S-400s, adding that the delivery is scheduled for 2019. Ankara signaled that it wants its S-400 agreement with Russia implemented as soon as possible.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала