MOSCOW - The official visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to Moscow as the first Turkish foreign minister who visited Russia after eight years signaled to the beginning of a new period in bilateral relations.
During Gul's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Turkish side brought onto agenda four important points in regard to political cooperation and noted that the relations should be developed by taking those four points as basis.
Diplomatic sources said that the Russian side was also warm to the proposals of Turkish side which would speed up improving the relations, listing those proposals as ''economic relations, stability in the region, Eurasian policy and common stance against drug and human smuggling.''
Regarding the details of the new approach, diplomatic sources said that:
''Economic relations: The economic relations between the two countries are very good. The right demands of the Turkish side about Blue Stream caused uneasiness in Russia last year. For that reason, Putin could not visit Ankara. But the Russian side has understood the objections of Turkey and no problem remains about this issue. Despite that, the bilateral trade gives deficit to the disadvantage of Turkey. This should be balanced.''
''Stability in Region: Installing regional stability depends particularly on protection of territorial integrity of South Caucasian countries. For that reason, the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia should be protected. Both sides should launch sincere efforts to prevent developments which could endanger the future of those countries.''
''Eurasia policy: The two sides should make more effective 'the Joint Action Plan for Cooperation in Eurasia' on which they earlier reached agreement and the two sides should consider what can be done under this plan. The two countries' relations with Iran are also very important. Turkey's and Russia's similar attitudes on Iraq issue prevent the two countries from coming up against each other at the United Nations (U.N.). This situation can pave the way for Russia's supporting Turkey's temporary U.N. Security Council membership in 2009.''
''Joint attitude in fight against drug and human trafficking: Turkey and Russia should have tighter cooperation against human and drug trafficking. This cooperation should be improved in a way that constitutes a model for other international platforms.''
Meanwhile, sources quoted Russian President Putin as saying that he would pay a visit to Turkey as soon as possible and stated that if he visits Turkey this year, he will be the first Russian President to visit Turkey after 57 years in his meeting with Gul on Tuesday.
Turkish side wants Putin's visit to Turkey not to coincide with the NATO Summit which will be held in Istanbul, but to be a special visit on another date.
(Öª-EÖ-AÖ) 25.02.2004