The first session of the Russian-Turkish Public Forum took place in Istanbul yesterday, RIA Novosti reports. The forum is co-chaired by Konstantin Kosachyov, the head of the committee in charge of international relations of the Russian parliament's lower house, and Sarik Tara, a Turkish businessman and honorary chairman of the ENKA construction company.
The agenda of the forum focuses on scientific, cultural, religious and business cooperation between the countries, as well as on the development of tourism and sports exchange programs.
During the talks, the participants are expected to approve a memorandum of mutual understanding, which will be signed during Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Moscow in March. Issues of cultural co-operation in the field of cinema were discussed on the Friday session of the Forum.
Erdogan and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to create the Russian-Turkish Public Forum, intended to improve cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the countries, during their meeting in Ankara last May.
This year, the countries will mark the 90th anniversary since the signing of the Turkish-Soviet Friendship and Brotherhood Agreement in 1921.
