Today, August 6, RF Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrives in Turkey for an official visit. PMs of the two states agreed on the visit back at Sochi meeting in May, 2009. “We expect the visit to be productive,” Deputy Head of Russian Government Staff Yuri Ushakov told journalists.
According to him, Putin and Erdogan are going to “discuss the current issues on cooperation in tête-à-tête conversation with further participation in intergovernmental talks at lunch.”

“Russia and Turkey can be confidently called strategic partners. In 2008, the trade turnover reported highest increase of 50% making up U.S. $34bl.” As a result, Russia became Turkey’s principal trade partner, whereas Turkey is number five partner for Russia. Ushakov admitted that energy cooperation and Nabucco gas main project prospects might also be discussed. The PMs will exchange opinions on enlivening of transport-related collaboration including motor trucking, Ceyhan-Samsun ferry initiation, customs regulations, humanitarian cooperation and tourism.

The meeting will result in Putin and Erdogan signing of documents on cooperation in energy sector, including gas cooperation (South Stream and Blue Stream-2) and oil sector (Samsun-Ceyhan) protocols. Overall 16 Russian-Turkish cooperation documents will be signed.

Besides, Russia provided Turkish counterparts with proposals on construction of Nuclear Power Plant. “Our new compromise proposals are currently discussed,” Ushakov informed.
He said the signing of intergovernmental protocol on cooperation in nuclear energy sector, in particular the construction of the first NPP in Turkey is expected.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul will host Vladimir Putin later that day, ITAR-TASS reports.