MEDVEDEV TO VISIT IN MAY FOR TALKS ON ENERGY, TIES

Today’s Zaman
March 12 2010
Turkey

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will visit Turkey on May 11-13
for talks with Turkish officials focusing on energy cooperation and
expanding bilateral ties, Russian officials have said.

Turkish and Russian officials have been working hard to finish
preparations for the Russian president’s visit. In addition to
the vast energy cooperation between the two countries, Medvedev and
Turkish officials are expected to discuss ways to increase the volume
of trade to $100 billion and plans to lift visa requirements. The
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia is also likely
to be on the agenda.

Turkey is in a bid to normalize its relations with Armenia but wants
to see progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute to be able to push for
more progress. Azerbaijan, a regional and ethnic ally for Turkey and
a key energy supplier for the West, is opposed to the Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation unless the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute is resolved.
From: Baghdasarian