Russian Federation cautiously optimistic on Syria peace deal

For his part, Erdogan said that there are “no doubts” about the “very successful” Syria talks sponsored by the two countries, adding that Turkey was cooperating entirely with Russia’s military. According to media reports, this issue was on the agenda for the Putin-Erdogan meeting.

The Turkish president further said Russian Federation, as a member of Minsk Group that is mediating between Azerbaijan and Armenia, can have an influential role in finding a solution on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between the two countries.

The talks concluded with the signing of multiple agreements, including the wide-ranging cooperation program for 2017-2020 aimed at stabilizing the mutual flow of goods, services and capital, and the establishing of a new joint investment fund with a capital of up to 1 billion USA dollars.

Relations between Russian Federation and Turkey, regional rivals for centuries, have had sharp ups and downs in the past two years.

Erdogan said the normalization process between Ankara and Moscow, which started late last summer, was over. We have considered these issues.

Erdogan, referring to IS’s remaining stronghold, told the news conference: “Of course, the real target now is Raqqa”.

The Russian leader has also acknowledged that the political dialogue between the two counties has resumed. However, Putin declared the shooting a “provocation” created to undermine Turkey-Russia relations.

“Our hearts are broken by this turn of events, which comes after five years of cooperation with the government of Turkey and other local partners”, Mercy Corps said in a statement on its website.

Erdogan said Turkey welcomed the ratification of the TurkStream natural gas pipeline project.

The agreement for the nuclear plant in Mersin province, which is to have 4,800 megawatts of capacity, was signed in 2010 and it should be operational by 2023.

Mercy Corps said it was grateful for the cooperation given until now by Turkey, “which has generously opened its doors to more than 3 million refugees since the Syria conflict began”. The parties spoke in favour of combining the efforts of the entire world community in the fight against terrorism. A ban on one of Turkey’s most important agricultural products, tomatoes, remains in force.

Russian Federation and Turkey also coordinated their operations against the Islamic State group in Syria. The level of violence has declined substantially. “Whether it is Turkey or Russian Federation, we are working in full cooperation militarily in Syria”.

Vladimir Putin has hailed the “efficient and close” relationship between the Russian Federation and Turkey’s militaries, as he hosted Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for talks about Syria. This partnership has strained Washington-Ankara ties. “There is a crisis in the region and as you know we are intensely involved in it”.

Semyon Bagdasarov, director of the Center for Middle East and Central Asian Studies, said it’s obvious what Erdogan wants: he takes issue with Syrian Kurds due to their close links to Turkish Kurds, whom Ankara accuses of separatism. By the end of July, Erdogan agreed to travel to Moscow.

Russian Federation and Turkey have also set up a $1 Billion Joint Investment Fund to support businesses of both countries and singed dozens of agreements aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.