The presidents of Russia and Turkey vowed to open a new period of close relations as they rebuild ties between their countries after a almost seven-month rupture over Ankara’s shooting down of a Russian warplane previous year.
Advertisement
“The painful event on November 24 has cast a dark shadow over our really good and fruitful relations with Russia”, Erdoğan said and added that he hopes the meeting between the two countries’ business groups will be effective and fruitful.
Previously close ties between Moscow and Ankara broke down after a Turkish jet shot down a Russian warplane at the Syrian border, an incident that Mr Putin had described as a “treacherous stab in the back”.
Erdogan’s trip is being closely watched in the West where some fear his growing detente with Moscow could affect his links with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, of which Turkey is a member. “Life changes quickly.” Cooperation would be increased on projects including a planned $20 billion gas pipeline and a nuclear power plant to be built in Turkey by the Russians, Erdogan said, as well as between their two defence sectors.
Putin said he and Erdogan would have a separate discussion on Syria later Tuesday involving top diplomats and intelligence officials. “I want to express the hope that under your leadership the Turkish people will cope with this problem (the coup’s aftermath) and that order and constitutional legality will be restored”. “At the same time, I do not believe that relations between the two countries will become so close that Russian Federation can offer Turkey an alternative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation security partnership”.
While Putin also spoke of rebuilding ties, he sounded more cautious, warning that it will take time to fully restore them.
Russian Federation is carrying out a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad while Turkey is fiercely opposed to the Syrian leader.
Turkey warned the United States on Tuesday not to sacrifice bilateral ties over Pennsylvania-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the failed coup and wants to see extradited to face trial. Gulen has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Putin was one of the first foreign leaders to phone Erdogan offering support after the coup attempt and shares none of the concerns of European Union leaders about the ensuing crackdown. Denmark’s ruling party said on Tuesday the EU should end accession negotiations with Turkey completely over Erdogan’s “undemocratic initiatives”, the latest European country to condemn developments in Turkey.
Mr Putin, in his turn, said that the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey – halted after the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey in November – will resume.
Advertisement
Putin welcomed Erdogan in a Tsarist-era palace just outside his home town and immediately signaled he was ready to improve relations with Turkey, which he said had gone from a historical high point to a very low level.
