Hurriyet, Turkey
Jan 12 2005

ERDOGAN, PUTIN CELEBRATE BOOMING ECONOMIC TIES

Visiting Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir
Putin yesterday celebrated booming trade relations between their two
countries during talks in Moscow focusing on new energy and military
agreements. “I agree with the forecast that bilateral trade volume
could reach $15 billion in 2005 and $25 billion in 2007,” Putin told
a press conference with Erdogan. “Our most optimistic forecasts about
economic cooperation have come true.’ Accompanied by a delegation of
600 businessmen, Erdogan was paying a return visit to Moscow after
Putin late last year became the first Russian leader to visit Turkey
in 32 years. Putin said that Russia would back efforts by UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan to find a solution to the Cyprus
problem. Stating that he would press the international community to
speed up its efforts to lift the international blockade on the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the Russian leader said,
“We do not think that the political isolation of Northern Cypriots is
fair.’ He said he had spoken to Annan yesterday morning about plans
for developing economic cooperation with the TRNC and lifting the
blockade. The Russian president also stressed that his country was
ready to help Turkey overcome its problems with Armenia, and lends
its full support to Turkey’s European Union membership bid. For his
part, Erdogan also said that they would discuss the expansion of
military-technological cooperation as Putin also confirmed that the
two countries had previous plans on the issue. He is expected to
attend a meeting of Russian and Turkish businessmen today and
inaugurate a Turkish Trade Center in central Moscow. Erdogan also
announced that he would pay a visit to Moscow on May 9 to mark the
anniversary of Russia’s fight against fascism in World War II, and
also the beginning of modern Turkish-Russian relations. /Hurriyet/