Erdoğan and Putin Will Meet

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

President Tayyip Erdoğan and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will meet today in Russia’s St. Petersburg at 01.00 p.m. local time in Turkey.

Their last meeting was on November 15, 2015 as part of G20 summit, which was organised in Antalya.

In the meeting, which will take place in Constantine Palace,dual economical cooperation projects including Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline and Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant projects, international and regional issues will be discussed, it has been reported.

According to the report in Sputnik News, which had had its  access blocked due to tension  experienced on April 15, but was  unblocked yesterday (August 8), leaders will especially discuss the issues in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and matters which concern international counter terrorism. In the meeting, the Nagorno-Karabakh issue is expected to be discussed.

Putin and Erdoğan will hold a press conference at 04.00 p.m. after the inter-committee dinner at 2:00 p.m. Leaders will come together with Russian and Turkish business people.

Erdoğan talked to the Russian news agency Tass

Erdoğan gave an interview to the Russian news agency Tass and state television Rossiya 24 before meeting with Putin in Constantine Palace.

Erdoğan has stated that they hope that joint projects such Akkuyu will continue and said “A new page will turned on Turkey-Russia relationships.”

Russia is the most important actor to establish peace in Syria”

Erdoğan has expressed that his thoughts have changed  about Russia’s existence in Syria:

“I have to say this clearly, the Russian Federation is the most important step, most important actor to bring peace to Syria.”

Tension after November 24, 2015

It is stated that the meeting carries great importance with respect to  to reversing  the difficult  times between Turkey and Russia.

Turkey-Russia relations broke  down due to Syrian politics and after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet on November 24, 2015, bringing tensions to their height.

The two countries’ relationship has started to normalize after Erdoğan sent an apology letter on June 24. (EKN/UA)