Russian hands file on “Chechen terrorists” to Turkey – agency

Anatolia news agency
7 Dec 04

Ankara, 7 December: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov handed over
a file on “Chechen terrorists” to Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkish capital
of Ankara, sources said late on Monday [6 December].

The sources said that they did not have any information about the
contents of the file.

The same sources quoted Putin as saying that “they were aware of the
realities” regarding Cyprus issue and noted that they observed that
Russia would pursue a milder and more active policy regarding the
veto in United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Sources said that Turkish side told the Russian side that there were
serious problems regarding the transportation of oil via the Turkish
Straits, and therefore measures would continue. On the other hand,
Russian officials stated that they were aware of same problems,
but said that Russian businessmen had suffered great loss due to the
tanker traffic.

The same sources said that the Russians hoped Turkish authorities
to assume a milder attitude towards transportation of oil via the
Turkish Straits, but they were also aware that “this can’t continue
in this way in the long-term.”

Noting that this was not an issue on which a decision could be
reached immediately, the same sources said that Russian officials
would evaluate by-pass lines some time later. They also said that
two countries would hold consultations on this matter.

Regarding Azerbaijani-Armenian dispute, the sources said that Turkish
side expressed its wish to restore stability in the region, while
the Russian side drew a better tableau than thought.

The same sources said that the Russians stressed on opening of borders,
construction of railways, and re-opening of current railways.

Stating that Turkey extended support to Russia’s demand to become
an observer to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),
the same sources added that two countries would maintain efforts to
reflect their economic cooperation on Eurasia.