ANKARA (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Ankara on Sunday upon the invitation of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Putin is accompanied by his wife Lyudmila Alexandrovna Putina.
Putin has not made any comments at his arrival to Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
-TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN-
Tight security measures have been taken for Putin's visit.
3,000 policemen and policewomen will protect Putin until his departure on December 6th.
Two different routes to the Glass Villa have been planned for Putin. Security will be tight on all the routes.
Security officers may be asked to work over-time, if necessary. According to some officials, several boulevards may be closed temporarily during Putin's trip in Ankara.
Russian security units will be the body guards of Putin. Aside from Russian security officials, high level security experts from the Presidency will accompany Putin.
Police dogs were also at the Airport for security of the guest delegation. Helicopters contributed to the protection of Putin's delegation.
-PUTIN'S PROGRAM-
Putin, who will attend a dinner that will be hosted in Cankaya Palace on Sunday evening, will start his contacts on Monday.
Within the framework of his contacts, Putin will meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Putin will attend Turkish-Russian Business Forum that will be hosted by Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and will depart from Ankara on Monday evening.
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov is expected to have a separate meeting with Gul.
President Mintimer Shaimiev of Tatarstan and President Murat Zyazikov of Ingushetia will also be in the delegation of Putin. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and Minister of Industry & Energy Viktor Khristenko are also accompanying President Putin.
-AGENDA-
Putin will be the first Russian leader officially visiting Turkey after 32 years of interval.
Putin was scheduled to visit Turkey between September 2nd and 3rd. However, his visit was postponed when a group of armed militants held hostage more than a thousand people, mostly children, in a school in Beslan, North Ossetia.
Cooperation in energy, economy, trade as well as oil transportation from the straits, alternative routes, cooperation in security and defense, fight against terrorism, cooperation in the Black Sea Region, Iraq, the Middle East, Caucasus, and Cyprus are also expected to be discussed during Putin's visit.
During the talks, Russia is expected to pursue its insistence about the Russian-Israeli-made ''Erdogan'' helicopter which competed for the helicopter tender of Turkish Armed Forces.
Six separate documents will be signed during the visit besides the ''Joint Declaration Aiming at Deepening Friendship and Multilateral Partnership between Turkey and Russia''. The declaration is believed to add a new momentum to Turkish-Russian relations and with the declaration the two parties will stress their mutual will to improve cooperation. The two countries are also envisaged to sign the following six documents:
-Agreement to ''Prevent Dangerous Acts Beyond the Territorial Waters''.
-Agreement to Mutually Protect Classified Information exchanged between governments of Turkey and Russia within the scope of Defense Industry.
-Agreement for the preservation of Intellectual Property Rights within the scope of bilateral Military and Technical Cooperation.
-A Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between Turkish Foreign Ministry Strategic Researches Center and Russian Federation Foreign Ministry Diplomatic Academy.
-Framework Agreement regarding Cooperation between Botas and Gazprom in Energy.
-Cooperation Protocol Between Turkish Eximbank and Russian Eximbank.
(AY
2004-12-05