Kremlin says Putin to meet Erdogan in early August

/By Azernews/

By Gunay Camal

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet in Russia in early August.

“The presidents agreed that the meeting will take place in the Russian Federation in early August, but the city and the exact date are being specified," Russian President’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS on July 20.

The presidential press secretary said "indeed, a meeting between Putin and Erdogan is currently being prepared and worked out through diplomatic channels".

President Putin had a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart on July 17.

While commenting on the coup attempt in Turkey, President Putin stressed that Moscow’s fundamental position on the inadmissibility of the anti-constitutional actions and violence in the country and expressed his condolences over the casualties.

In his turn, President Erdogan told his Russian counterpart that all measures will be taken to ensure security of Russian tourists in the Turkish resorts.

Erdogan earlier stated that his country is prepared to commence the restoration of peace and political relations with Russia and Iran. 

The Turkish president highlighted the importance of the stability in the region during a telephone conversation with Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani.

“Today, we are determined more than ever before to contribute to the solution of regional problems hand in hand with Iran and Russia and in cooperation with them," Erdogan said. 

The conversation of the two presidents followed the military coup attempt of last Friday. President Rouhani also gave his praises for the Turkish population that showed unwavering support for the ruling authorities.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Wednesday in Malaysia that his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will visit Ankara next week in order to further negotiate regional issues including Syria, Yemen, ISIS and PKK.   

Ankara and Tehran, along with Moscow, are known for their policy differences on Syria since Turkey defends Assad regime’s removal from power while Iran and Russia backs the regime.

Before the failed coup attempt of July 15, Turkey, a country that has most helped the rebellion against the rule of Bashar al-Assad, has hinted it may move to normalize relations with Damascus.

“I am sure that we will return [our] ties with Syria to normal,” Turkish Prime Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m on July 13. “We need it. We normalized our relations with Israel and Russia. I’m sure we will go back to normal relations with Syria as well.”

In recent weeks, Turkey has normalized ties with Israel, which were ruptured over an Israeli commando raid on a Turkish aid boat eight years ago, and with Russia, which had imposed sanctions against Turkey after the latter downed its fighter jet in late 2015.