BY TAHA AKYOL
MILLIYET- The most important event of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Turkey will be the signing of a ‘Declaration on the Deepening of Friendship and the Multidimensional Partnership between Turkey and the Russian Federation.’ This means that only one step remains before reaching the level of ‘strategic partnership.’ In addition, a ‘Cooperative Pact between the Turkish Foreign Ministry Strategic Research Center and the Russian Diplomatic Academy’ is among five other documents to be signed. We will hold joint panels, share information and discuss opinions on strategic issues. Turkey is a NATO member, a strategic partner of the US, a future member of the European Union, and an active member of the Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC). The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project is proceeding successfully with Western support, despite Russia’s objections. At the same time, Ankara is developing a multidimensional partnership with Moscow. Since the Karlofca Agreement of 1669, Russia has played an often-destructive role in our history. With brief exceptions, Turkish-Russian history is a history of wars. But times have changed. Now a nation’s fate hinges not on conflicts, but cooperation.
When Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to Moscow as leader of the winning party, before becoming prime minister, he was welcomed by Putin. Putin also welcomed Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul this February. The new generation of leaders of the two countries can understand each other better. For the first time in history, a czar, that is, a Russian president, is visiting Turkey and we are welcoming to him.