Putin, Erdogan hold talks in Sochi

Gradual restoration of Turkey’s internal political situation will create conditions for the steady development of relations with Russia, President Vladimir Putin said as he opened talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Wednesday, TASS reports.

“We proceed from the understanding that the internal political situation will be eventually restored and this will create greater conditions for the steady development of Russian-Turkish relations,” Putin said.

“It is good that we have a chance to meet in due course and discuss key issues of bilateral cooperation and major international developments, including on such pressing issues as the Syrian crisis,” Putin said.

“The mere fact of this mode of our joint work shows that Russian-Turkish relations are taking on more significance and are being restored to its full format,” he said.
Putin heartily welcomed the Turkish delegation, thanking Erdogan for having accepted the invitation to come to Sochi. The Russian president stressed that bilateral relations are developing “as we had planned with you.”

In his turn, Erdogan noted that the two leaders will have a good opportunity on Wednesday to discuss both aspects of bilateral cooperation and regional issues. “I’m sure that those steps that we are taking together will change the fate of the whole region,” Erdogan said.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS