"Russia-Turkey relations are unique"

The Russian-Turkish cooperation plays a crucial role both in the economy and policy of the Eurasian macro-region, chairman of the Russian-Turkish Business Council Akhmet Palankoev and the expert on Russian-Turkish relations from Syasa Times, Dr Basel Haj Jasem, told Vestnik Kavkaza on the sidelines of the International Conference titled "Russia and Turkey: Forging Multidimensional Partnership,' organised by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC).

Ahmet Palankoev stressed the importance of developing economic contacts between the two countries. "Over the past few years, among other things, Russia-Turkey economic relations have changed for the better. Our trade turnover is growing, new sectors of the economy, which we jointly develop, are emerging. I don’t see any factors that would impede the development of these relations now, because our economies are complementary, not competing. This is a unique situation where geography and economy of our countries contribute to mutual development," he said.

In this regard, the chairman of the Russian-Turkish Business Council highly appreciated today's conference. "The dialogue allows us to identify and discuss all the issues arising in the process of cooperation, as well as to find ways to solve the problems, which we need to overcome in order to develop our relations," Ahmet Palankoev stressed.

Basel Haj Jasem also drew attention to many factors uniting Russia and Turkey. "We have a lot in common. The joint work of Moscow and Ankara is very important for the South Caucasus, as well as for Syria. If we look at the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the crisis between Azerbaijan and Armenia, it is clear that the situation would be much more tense without active mediation Ankara and Moscow, which would cause a huge conflict involving not just Armenia and Azerbaijan. Such a conflict would have affected the entire region of the Greater Caucasus, including Turkey, Russia and Iran," he explained.

"The joint work of Russia and Turkey in Syria is also very important. Both countries look at Syria quite differently than the United States does. Russia and Turkey need peace in this region, especially in Syria, the continuation of this conflict means more victims among Russian military personnel and the expansion of instability and terrorism in the Middle East. I should also note the importance of cooperation between Russia and Turkey in the field of energy and pipelines. Of course, the United States does not like the Turkish Stream pipeline to go through Turkey, which indicates that Russia gives another card to Ankara for the balance of power in the relations with the U.S. and the EU," Basel Haj Jasem concluded.

The 3rd International Conference titled "Russia and Turkey: Forging Multidimensional Partnership,' jointly organised by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Centre for Strategic Research Republic of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held in Moscow today.

The conference participants analyzed the political, economic and humanitarian base of bilateral relations, as well as identified ways for their further development and prepared specific practical proposals for the governments of the two countries. They also discussed the approaches of Russia and Turkey to the formation of a regional security system in Europe and the Middle East, as well as cooperation in the economic and energy sectors at a new stage.