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Russia, Turkey agree to mend broken ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan answer journalists’ questions during a press conference in Konstantinovsky Palace outside Saint Petersburg on August 9, 2016.

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“We will gradually be lifting the measures implemented in regards to Turkish companies”, Putin said adding “Regarding the full restoration of ties with Turkey, do we want it?”

On the eve of the August 9 meeting, Erdogan said he wanted to reset relations with Russian Federation from a clean slate and restart cooperation in several sectors.

Relations between the two countries had remained soured until the issue seemed largely resolved June 29 through a letter and subsequent telephone calls between the countries’ leaders.

Russia’s Defence Ministry has accused Turkey of aiding the IS in the past, citing data indicating that the militants were being re-supplied and re-armed from Turkey.

“We should not only regain the earlier level, but go even further, your [Russian business] active participation will be needed for sure to make it possible”, Putin told Russian and Turkish business leaders after meeting with Erdogan.

Moscow and Ankara largely disagree on Syria, as Turkey wants Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to be ousted, while Russian Federation supports him and the Syrian army in their fight against the Islamic State militant group.

The Turkish leader also said he is ready to build a natural gas pipeline with Russian Federation and negotiate a deal to construct Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

The U.S. website said that “Borissov has discussed the projects with the European Commission” and said “they will be done in compliance with European Union rules”.

Turkey is pressing the United States hard to extradite Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government blames for the failed coup.

Turkey is pressing the United States to extradite him to Turkey.

Ankara has repeatedly said the coup attempt was organized by followers of USA -based preacher Fetullah Gulen and FETO.

The Russian president categorically condemned the failed military coup.

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He said the pilots involved in the downing of a Russian jet on November 24, 2015, which led to a crisis in bilateral ties, are in custody for their ties with the so-called Gulen Terrorist Organization, a reference to US -based cleric Fethullah Gulen. For Turkey, the détente with Russian Federation was now an opportunity display its strategic options, CNN reported Tuesday.

Turkey's President Erdogan in Moscow to 'reset' Russia ties