Results of Putin’s meeting with Erdogan: gas pipeline, nuclear power plant, charters and trade, and not a word about Syria
The announced result of today's meeting between Vladimir Putin and Recep Erdogan was an agreement on the development of economic ties. Although it is obvious that the negotiations were not limited to the economy.
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According to materials from the Kremlin press service, in addition to officials from the economic bloc, they were attended by the special representative of the Russian President for the Syrian settlement, Alexander Lavrentyev, and the head of the National Intelligence Organization, Hakan Fidan. However, no specific statements were made on this issue. It is unclear whether Türkiye is ready to close the border. This question is especially acute now after the Islamist counter-offensive near Aleppo.
But Erdogan announced his intention to achieve trade turnover with Russia at $100 billion annually. The Turkish president is ready to cooperate even in the defense industry. “The Moscow-Ankara axis of friendship will be restored,” Erdogan said.
Putin spoke cautiously, promising that previously imposed economic restrictions on Turkish companies, in particular regarding construction contracts, would be lifted gradually. At the same time, the Russian president confidently announced that the resumption of charter flights to Turkey will be resumed in the near future.
Specific joint projects were also named. This is primarily the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. Erdogan told reporters of his readiness to speed up its construction. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak today announced the completion date of construction - 2019. Putin spoke more cautiously, recalling that the launch of the gas pipeline also depends on a third party - the European Union.
“We initially considered Turkish Stream as an opportunity to expand our cooperation in the gas sector with both Turkey and Europe. One part of the Turkish Stream was intended exclusively for domestic consumers in Turkey due to the growing need and the growth of the economy of the Turkish Republic. We talked about this today, that this part is beyond any doubt, it can begin to be implemented in the very near future,” Putin said. It is planned that the offshore section of the Turkish Stream will consist of four lines with a capacity of 15,75 billion cubic meters. meters each.
Russia is ready to consider reducing gas prices for Turkey. The Turkish press wrote about this the day before. Now one thousand cubic meters of Russian gas costs private companies in Turkey $390. In January-May 2016, Turkey imported 10,14 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia. The Russian Federation's share in Turkey's total gas imports in January-May 2016 amounted to 50,84%.
Russia and Turkey have agreed on the necessary decisions for the implementation of the Akkuyu NPP project, which is being built with the participation of Rosatom near the port of Mersin. Erdogan said that Turkey intends to grant it the status of a “strategic investment. The project provides for the construction of four power units with a capacity of 1,2 GW each. The first power unit is expected to be commissioned by 2023.
Today, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Turkish investment holding Ronesans Holding agreed to expand investment cooperation. The potential volume of funds for investment within the framework of the partnership between RDIF and Ronesans Holding will be up to $200 million on each side.
English version :: Read in English: Results of Putin's meeting with Erdogan: gas pipeline, nuclear power plant, charter flights and trade, and not a word about Syria