Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Russia-Turkey talks “complex and extremely fruitful” on his return to Ankara. He attached significance to the agreement on lifting visa restrictions between the two states.

“Both Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Premier Vladimir Putin responded positively to this process,” ITAR TASS quotes Erdogan. According to him, the corresponding bodies were ordered to proceed with elaboration of the visa regime relaxation. Turkish side assumes that the final agreement of visa-free regime may be signed this summer within the framework of Russia-Turkey business council session in Istanbul.

Erdogan also put high value on the energy sector talks: “Energy cooperation was also strenuously discussed. We are engaged in the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline project. Significant progress was achieved in nuclear power sector. Presently, the work in this direction is in hand and we got an opportunity to assess its course at the talks.”

Regional issues, particularly situation in the Caucasus, Armenia-Turkey relations, as well as Azerbaijan and Cyprus issues were canvassed in the course of the talks, Erdogan outlined.

L.A.