Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the upcoming Vienna gathering of the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany offers a genuine opening to resolve the standoff over Iran's nuclear program. Speaking alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul at a joint press conference in Ankara, Lavrov urged all parties to avoid actions that could undermine the process.
Both Türkiye and Russia expressed hope that the Vienna meeting would set a political solution in motion. Lavrov described the two ministers as aligned: "We are looking in the same direction on Iran."
On bilateral ties, Lavrov said Türkiye and Russia enjoy a broad, multifaceted partnership sustained by active political dialogue. He identified nuclear energy, oil, and natural gas as sectors with significant Russian investment potential in Türkiye, and noted that the two countries share similar positions on a range of international issues.
Lavrov emphasized that energy cooperation serves the clear interests of both nations. Following the press conference, he met separately with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2006, in its own words.