Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Tuesday after talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that the two nations can rebuild their damaged ties and make them even closer, promising to back major energy projects with Russia.
Repeatedly calling Putin his “dear friend,” Erdogan says Turkey is ready to implement a natural gas pipeline project proposed by Moscow and a deal for Russia to build Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.
Putin, in turn, says the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey, halted after the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey in November, will resume soon. He also promises to gradually lift an embargo on imports of Turkish agricultural products and other restrictions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, welcomes Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Konstantin palace outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Putin adds 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 back opposing sides.
While Moscow backs Syrian President Bashar Assad throughout the nation’s civil war and further bolsters that support by launching an air campaign last September, Turkey is pushing for Assad’s removal.
— AP
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