Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov held a joint press conference in Ankara in May 2006, with Gül emphasizing that Türkiye views Russia as a strategically significant nation and an important regional actor.
Gül cited strong economic ties between the two countries, noting bilateral trade stands at $15 billion with a shared goal of reaching $25 billion. Turkish contractors have completed projects in Russia valued at $15 billion, and Turkish investment there has approached $3 billion. He also noted that roughly 2 million Russian tourists visited Türkiye the previous year.
Energy cooperation was highlighted as a key pillar of the relationship, with the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline cited as a major joint undertaking. Gül confirmed that Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is expected to visit Russia in the coming period.
The two ministers also discussed Iran's nuclear program, with Gül stressing the need for a diplomatic resolution, given Iran's status as a neighboring country. Ahead of scheduled talks in Vienna, Gül expressed cautious optimism that a peaceful solution remained within reach. He confirmed that the United States had made no request to use Turkish territory for any potential military action against Iran.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2006, in its own words.