MOSCOW (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday conveyed Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Istanbul.
Erdogan, who arrived in Moscow today for a three day working visit, attended a dinner which Putin hosted in his honor.
Putin said, ''we will meet at dinner tonight and exchange views on many issues,'' stating that, ''the talks will continue on Tuesday. We will also meet businessmen. The visit will be very busy. I wish the visit to be fruitful.''
Erdogan said, ''Mr. Sezer invited you to Istanbul during your visit to Ankara. He wanted me to reiterate this invitation.''
Erdogan said, ''we have come here with chairmen of all chambers. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will inaugurate a business center built by Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) I believe that this business center will constitute an important trade center.''
Erdogan, in a statement he made to Russian Itar-Tass agency prior to his visit, stated that his visit aimed at maintaining high level dialogue in bilateral relations and evaluate new steps in bilateral relations.
Erdogan said he believed that positive relations between Ankara and Moscow would have a positive contribution to the peace, stability and welfare of the region as well as the European geography. He said bilateral trade volume between Russia and Turkey could be increased to 15 billion U.S. dollars in 2005 and to 25 billion U.S. dollars in 2007. Erdogan said developing trade between Russia and Turkey made Russia the most important trade partner of Turkey, stating that bilateral relations could be deepened by improving joint projects transportation, energy, and tourism.
(AY)
2005-01-10