Russia and Turkey plan to continue contributing to regional and global security, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said after a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, RIA Novosti reports.
Medvedev said that they talked on the problems in the Middle East and North Africa, the Balkans, Trans-Caucasus and cooperation in the Black Sea area.
Erdogan presented Medvedev with a copy of the document on friendship and brotherhood between the two states and an anniversary stamp published to mark the 90th anniversary of the document.
The Turkish premier reminded that Soviet Russia recognized Turkey as an independent state on March 16, 1921, and recognized its borders.
Dmitry Medvedev sees opportunities for developing trade-economic ties with Turkey and confirms the goal of achieving a trade turnover of $100 billion annually in five years. He reminded that the turnover in 2010 reached $25 billion, becoming Turkey’s second largest trade partner.
He clarified that trade turnover in 2010 increased by 29%, compared with 2009. Turkey invested $6 billion in 2010, compared with $680 million in 2008. Russia invested a total of approximately $4 billion in Turkey.
Energy is the key sphere of trade between the two countries, 70% of Russian export to Turkey belongs to energy carriers.
Russia is using an absolutely new scheme of management in construction of the nuclear power plant in Turkey. The scheme consists of construction of the plant, its ownership and management.
Russia and Turkey signed a deal on construction of the power plant on May 12, 2010, during Medvedev’s visit to Turkey. Atomstroyexport (Russian nuclear power equipment and service export monopoly) is a founder and the main contractor of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant construction.
Akkuyu consists of 4 WWER reactors with a power of 1200 MW at each energy block. Akkuyu will produce 35 trillion KW per hour annually.
Russia cooperates with some 150 Turkish construction companies. They have constructed over 800 facilities and signed contracts worth over $20 billion since 1980s.
Russia and Turkey exchanged notes on coming of the deal on mutual visits of Russian and Turkish citizens into force. They also exchanged notes on the deal on readmission.
3.1 million Russian tourists visited Turkey in 2010. The tourism flow is expected to increase by 30% this year, Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Jumhur Guven Tashbashy said.
The two countries will switch to a visa-free regime soon. A related deal was signed by the Russian president in Ankara on May 12, 2010. It will come into force after ratification by both parliaments. Tourists from Russia will be able to stay in Turkey for 30 days.
Russia and Turkey currently use a simplified visa-regime. Russian tourists may receive visas for 60 daysat any crossing points in Turkey.
The Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council saw signing of a protocol on the Russian-Turkish Public Forum and a deal between the VGTRK and the Turkish Radio and TV Corporation.
