TURKISH PREMIER & RUSSIAN PRESIDENT ASSESS BILATERAL RELATIONS IN JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
Anadolu Agency (AA)
May 12, 2010 Wednesday
Turkey
ANKARA – Turkey’s prime minister and Russia’s president commented on
the bilateral relations between their countries, as well as regional
developments during a joint press conference they held in capital
Ankara on Wednesday.
Appearing at the conference together with Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey
and Russia had the will to raise their trade volume to 100 billion
USD in five years.
"Turkey and Russia have signed 17 agreements today on energy,
agriculture and visa exemption," he said.
Erdogan defined visa exemption as a first step to intermingle the
two nations.
"The two parliaments will pass the nuclear energy agreement, and we
will start construction of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant," he said.
Turkey has cancelled four auctions for construction of a nuclear
power plant in Akkuyu hamlet of the southern province of Mersin.
Only one participant, the Russian-Turkish "Atomstroyexport-Inter
Rao-Park Teknik" Consortium, submitted an offer in the fourth auction
on September 24, 2008 which was cancelled on November 20, 2009.
Erdogan underlined importance of energy projects like South Stream,
Blue Stream, Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline and establishment of
a new refinery.
"After these steps are taken and after it becomes a transit base in
natural gas, Turkey will have a more important location," he said.
Erdogan also said Turkish contractors could undertake projects within
the framework of Kazan universiade to take place in 2013 and Sochi
winter olympic games to take place in 2014.
The Turkish prime minister also said that Turkey would never accept
nuclear weapons in its region.
"Turkey continuously tells this to Iran," Erdogan said, adding
Turkey’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program was obvious, and Iran had
also announced that it had no intention to prepare an atomic bomb,
a weapon of mass destruction that would lead to end of humanity.
"We have always said we support nuclear initiatives with humanitarian
goals," he said.
Erdogan said Turkey and Russia signed an agreement on establishment of
a nuclear power plant to make use of that energy within humanitarian
framework.
On Upper Karabakh dispute, Erdogan said Russia’s position on this
issue was different as it was a member of the Minsk Group and a
neighboring country.
Erdogan said Minsk Group should go on with their active initiatives,
and Turkey would also assume responsibilities and take part in the
process.
"I hope we will make this region an area of peace," he said.
Referring to energy cooperation with Russia, Erdogan said the first
step was the establishment of nuclear power plant, and the second
was purchase of natural gas and oil.
Erdogan said Turkey was providing 70 percent of its natural gas
and oil need from Russia, and was willing to further improve Blue
Stream project.
"We also attach importance to Samsun-Ceyhan crude oil project, which
is also an environmental project that will save the Straits," he said.
Erdogan also said Turkey would also construct a refinery in the
southern town of Ceyhun.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in his part that Turkey and
Russia were real strategic partners.
Expressing satisfaction over improvement in Turkish-Russian relations,
Medvedev indicated that the relations actually gained a strategic
dimension.
Referring to High Level Cooperation Council between Turkey and Russia,
Medvedev said the issues discussed at the council would help the
parties achieve commercial and economic targets more easily.
Medvedev also commented on the agreements signed today and noted that
studies were carried out in both countries to boost investment volume,
indicating that the fundamental target was to amount trade volume
above a hundred billion USD.
Russian President said cooperation in nuclear energy opened a new page
in relations, noting that the agreement would take effect following
conclusion of necessary procedures and approval process in the
parliament. He said the agreement would present new opportunities
for the countries and the most important could be to ensure energy
security.
Medvedev said works were underway on Blue Stream and South Stream
projects, noting that the projects in question ensured energy
security of the two countries and paved the way for opening of new
energy corridors.
Russian President said Samsun Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline project was
also important and that an agreement was reached to develop this
project. He said the parties discussed establishment of a refinery
in Ceyhan, noting that thus the product would be marketed jointly.
Medvedev said cooperation on high technologies area was also discussed.
Responding to a question, Medvedev said Upper Karabakh problem was
discussed with Erdogan.
He said Russia joined the process as a member of Minsk group and
noted that a positive development was recorded on the matter.
Medvedev said a solution could be reached in case the related parties
showed good will and acted with common sense and Russia and Turkey
were always in contact on the matter.