ANKARA - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Razov said on Tuesday that they thought that Iraqi issue could be solved through political and diplomatic means.
Following his meeting with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Razov told reporters that he came to Ankara to attend Eurasia Working Group meeting established between Turkey and Russia.
Razov said that they would take up issues concerning the two countries during his meeting with Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ali Tuygan.
They debated commercial and economic relations and issues related with completion of Blue Stream project during his meeting with Yakis, Razov noted.
Razov said that they also took up development of cooperation within the scope of existing consultative mechanisms.
Noting that they also debated international fight against terrorism, Razov stated that there was a consensus between two countries about the issue and they discussed cooperation opportunities.
Razov pointed out that the new government in Turkey had made statements supporting further improvement of relations with Russia after it had come to power.
Asked about Russia's policy towards developments in Iraq, Razov said that this issue did not come onto his meeting with Yakis and it could be taken up on Wednesday.
However, he noted, they thought that this issue could be solved through political and diplomatic means.
Mission headed by chief United Nations (U.N.) weapons inspector Hans Blix should be supported by several circles, Razov noted.
Razov said that necessary evaluations should be made by taking into consideration the results.
When asked when the Blue Stream project and the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin planned to be paid to Ankara in connection with it would be put into practice, Razov said that they did not talk about Putin's visit during their meeting.
Razov noted that issue of high-level reciprocal visits should be solved through diplomatic means.
According to their experts, transfers through Blue Stream could begin in January, Razov said.
Razov stated that taxation issues related with the project had to be solved and that he asked Yakis for settlement of this issue.