Erdogan visits Putin to forge new relations, away from US and Europe

Erdogan visits Putin to forge new relations, away from US and Europe
By Dan Alexe
Contributing Editor, New Europe

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expects talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to open “a new page” in bilateral relations, he told the Russian news agency TASS in an interview published on Sunday.
On Aug. 9, Erdogan is scheduled to meet Putin in the city of St Petersburg in an effort to repair strained ties following Turkey’s apology for shooting down a Russian fighter jet last year. The breach has cost Turkey an important source of tourists, and stalled energy deals.
Russia imposed trade sanctions on Turkey and the number of Russian tourists visiting the country fell by 87 percent in the first half of 2016.
“This will be a historic visit, a new beginning. At the talks with my friend Vladimir (Putin), I believe, a new page in bilateral relations will be opened. Our countries have a lot to do together,” TASS quoted Erdogan as saying.
Erdogan and Putin will focus in their talks on Tuesday on the Syria conflict, trade, energy and the resumption of Russian charter flights to Turkey.
“Without Russia’s participation it’s impossible to find a solution to the Syrian problem. Only in partnership with Russia will we be able to settle the crisis in Syria,” Erdogan said.
Russia and Turkey have been on different sides in Syria, with Moscow backing President Bashar al-Assad while Ankara wants him ousted.
Erdogan’s meeting with Putin coincides with renewed strains in Ankara’s ties with the West after a failed military coup in Turkey in which more than 230 people were killed. Turkey accuses the West of showing more concern over a post-coup crackdown than over the bloody events themselves.
In his Sunday interview with TASS, Erdogan also once again criticized the EU for what he called a nonfulfillment of its obligations to Turkey for 53 years.
“The EU plays with us for 53 years. We consistently have been proving our honesty and expect the same from the EU. It should abandon the policy of double standards,” Erdogan said.
Turkey’s economy minister says the country is ready to resume work on building a gas pipeline from Russia, a project that was suspended amid tensions between the two countries.
The project, called Turkish Stream, would bring gas from Russia to Turkey, from where it could be distributed to European Union countries. It was proposed by President Vladimir Putin in 2014 after a pipeline project to Bulgaria was ended amid EU countries’ opposition.
Turkey suspended the Turkish Stream as relations with Russia deteriorated following Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane. Relations warmed after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan apologized in June.
After meeting Russia’s energy minister on Tuesday, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybecki said: “We are open for construction of the first line of Turkish Stream,” state news agency Tass reported.
However, Turkish officials say Erdogan’s visit to Russia does not mean Turkey, a NATO ally and an aspiring member of the European Union, is turning its back on the West. (with TASS, AP, Reuters)
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