Turkey
Putin and Erdogan to end the ice age
After a months-long dispute, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish colleague, Mr Erdogan have sealed a new beginning of the relations. In St. Petersburg, they announced, the damaged re-establish the connection.
The two heads of state met in St. Petersburg, the hometown of Vladimir Putin, for the first time since the shooting down of a Russian fighter jet by Turkey in November, which had led to a massive deterioration in the relations between the two States. After the approximately two-hour conversation, Putin told the press that the talks had been difficult. The aim was to reach in the bilateral relations back to the pre-crisis level. “We want to restore relations with Turkey to the full extent and will make this”, – said Putin.
“We will cancel the sanctions against Turkish companies gradually,” he announced. Russia had banned, among other things, the Import of Turkish food. In addition, Moscow stopped all Charter flights for Russian tourists in Turkey. The planned gas pipeline TurkStream considered dead.
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The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “I believe that we are entering with this step and future steps in a very different Phase.” After the months-long exchange of insults Erdogan Putin called in front of the cameras twice “my esteemed friend”.
Green light for TurkStream
The Plan for the construction of the black sea gas pipeline with Russia will be implemented swiftly, underlined Erdogan. The Same is true for the first nuclear power plant in Turkey to build a Turkish-Russian consortium.
According to the original plans to be relocated from the southern Russian city of Anapa, a pipeline under the Black sea to Kiyiköy in the European part of Turkey. The Pipeline will have a capacity of 63 billion cubic meters of Gas per year. The effects on Europe are not yet clear. Many politicians in the EU have been demanding for a longer, that the Union of Russian Gas should be independent. If in the future TurkStream Gas to Europe flows, would however, both the dependence on Russia as well as Turkey are on the rise.
Criticism of the West
For Erdogan, the visit of the former Tsar’s metropolis was the first trip abroad since the coup attempt of 15. July. Putin strengthened his Turkish colleagues demonstratively the back. Russia will condemn any attempt of anti-constitutional coups, he said. Erdogan said, Putin’s backing, “made our people happy.” The Turkish President has criticized, by contrast, the lack of solidarity of the West.
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Historic visit: Erdogan’s Putin meets
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Historic visit: Erdogan’s Putin meets
The heads of state deliberated for about two hours in a small circle, such as the Russian news Agency, reported Tass. Then the delegations came. These also include high-ranking military and intelligence officers, involved in the war in Syria. Russia supports Syria President Bashar al-Assad, the Turkey calls for his resignation. “Democratic Changes in Syria can only be reached through democratic means,” reiterated the Kremlin chief.
The Turkish leadership had tried before the trip to dispel Worries that Erdogan’s visit could mean a departure of the Nato country’s of Europe. “Just because you visited Putin, does not mean turning away from the EU,” it said in government circles. The main objective was to overcome the crisis. Therefore, the Federal government welcomed the Meeting of the presidents. The re-engagement was important, said Federal foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of the “image”-newspaper. “At the same time, I do not believe that the relationship between the two countries is so close that Russia, Turkey can provide an Alternative to security partnership in NATO,” said Steinmeier. Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said: “I have no doubt that the Turkey knows exactly on which side she belongs to.”
kle/gri (afp, ape, dpa, rtre)