Both leaders announced the restart of two major energy projects – the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the construction of Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey.
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After the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian jet that violated Turkish airspace over the Turkey-Syria border last November, relations between the two countries soured, until the issue seemed largely resolved on June 29 through a letter and subsequent telephone calls between the leaders.
Putin described the incident at the time as a “treacherous stab in the back” and curtailed economic relations, placing an embargo on agricultural imports form Turkey and banning the sale of package tours to the country.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Saint Petersburg for talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is meant to end the rift between the two countries, started in November when Turkey downed a Russian warplane over Syria.
Putin added that he and Erdogan would have a separate discussion on Syria later Tuesday involving top military and intelligence officials to search for common ground in the crisis, where Moscow and Ankara have backed the opposing sides.
Erdogan said he hoped relations would become “more robust” and stressed how important it was that Putin offered his support after the coup.
An official in Erdogan’s office said there was a clear consensus about improving relations that were damaged when Turkey shot down a Russian war plane near the Syrian border late past year.
President Erdogan particularly mentioned Mr Putin’s gesture, saying it “gladdened me, my colleagues and our people”. Gulen denies the claims.
He has also lambasted the United States for refusing to immediately hand over Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based Muslim cleric whom Ankara accuses of being behind the coup attempt. The issue has been a dispute between Turkey and U.S.
The visit comes as Turkey’s ties with the West have cooled over criticism of a crackdown on alleged coup-plotters.
He also warned if the West “loses” Turkey it would be because of its own mistakes, not Ankara’s improving ties with Russia, China or the Middle East.
“We worked very hard to have good relations with Europe for 15 years”.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are exclusively those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
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“He expressed support for the elected government of Turkey and respect for the courage of the Turkish people”.
