UPDATES WITH PUTIN'S REMARKS ON RUSSIA-TÜRKİYE ECONOMIC COOPERATION
By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW (AA) — Speaking in person, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday offered condolences to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a terrorist attack in the Turkish capital Ankara that has taken the lives of four people.
In Kazan, Russia, speaking on the sidelines of a BRICS group summit Erdogan is attending as a guest, Putin said: “Dear Mr. President, dear colleagues, we are very glad to welcome you to Kazan. But before we start work, I would like to express my condolences in connection with the terrorist attack. Media reports are coming in about the terrorist attack in Türkiye.”
Putin added that Russia condemns any manifestations of terrorism.
Earlier, on X, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X that people had been killed and wounded in an attack on the facilities of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in the capital Ankara.
He called on people seeking the latest developments to rely on statements from official sources.
Security forces, firefighters, and paramedics were dispatched to the area.
It was reported that the defense firm's personnel were directed to shelters for security reasons.
Ankara prosecutors have also launched an investigation into the terrorist attack.
Condemning the “heinous attack,” Erdogan said: “We have four martyrs and 14 injured.”
- Palestine issue should be resolved based on 2-state formula
Turning to the international agenda, Putin called the “tragic development” of the situation in the Middle East as "the most pressing issue on the global agenda."
“The principled positions of Russia and Türkiye are very close on these issues. We see a lasting political and diplomatic settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict only on the basis of a generally recognized two-state formula approved by the UN Security Council," he said.
Israel has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza since a Hamas attack last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
More than 42,700 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, and over 100,300 injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli war on Gaza has displaced almost the territory’s entire population amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
Putin also invited his Turkish counterpart to discuss “regional issues of particular importance” for both countries, designating as such the Syrian peace process and the Karabakh settlement.
“I am also ready to brief you on the situation around the Ukrainian crisis,” he said.
Putin thanked Erdogan for accepting the invitation to take part in the BRICS Outreach/Plus format meeting to be held in the city of Kazan on Thursday.
“Your participation in this event will certainly reflect the significant role that Türkiye plays in solving the pressing problems of the modern world,” he said.
The Russian leader said he was aware of Ankara's interest in establishing close cooperation with BRICS, adding, "We see significant prospects here, taking into account the authority and special geopolitical role of your country, which connects the east and west of the Eurasian continent."
- Bilateral cooperation
On Russia-Türkiye bilateral relations, Putin said they were "good-neighborly, constructive, based on many years of experience in partnership in various fields, regular dialogue."
Highlighting that the turnover of their bilateral trade had reached $55.4 billion in 2023 and grew by 6.2% in January-August this year, he said the volume of mutual investments was substantial in major economy sectors, including metallurgy and the automotive industry.
"Turkish business is significantly represented here in mechanical engineering, metallurgy, and woodworking, and the greatest concentration of your investments and investment projects is concentrated right here in Tatarstan, where we are today," he stated.
Energy ties have acquired a "strategically significant" character, he noted, calling Russia "a reliable, time-tested supplier of natural gas to Türkiye, with the flow of 20.5 billion cubic meters of gas last year via the Blue Stream and TurkStream pipelines.
"Preparations are continuing for the implementation of our initiative to create an international gas hub in Türkiye. I am confident that it will significantly strengthen regional energy security, primarily through more balanced pricing mechanisms," he remarked.
Efforts are also underway to accelerate the construction of the first Turkish nuclear power plant, Akkuyu, Putin said, noting that the plant is expected to start supplying electricity to the Turkish energy system next year.
Tourism occupies a "special place" in the Russia-Türkiye ties, Putin said, pointing out that last year, a record 6.3 million Russian nationals visited Türkiye, a figure 20.7% greater than 2022.
"In January-August of this year, more than 4.5 million people (visited Türkiye from Russia), an increase of 4.6%. According to this indicator, Russia ranks first in Türkiye," he said.
Putin also praised the close cooperation between the rescue agencies of the two nations, noting that Russian emergency services participated in wildfire extinguishing efforts in Türkiye.