MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Blue Stream Project is about to be completed and this project proved the strong relations between Turkey and Russia.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the relations will further improve after completing Blue Stream Project.
Erdogan was received by Putin in Kremlin Palace.
Putin evaluated Turkey with the words ''old and reliable partner'' and said that the relations between the two countries have further developed in recent period.
Noting that he would like to congratulate Erdogan due to the results of November 3 elections, Putin said that he believed that the existing traditions in the relations of Russia and Turkey would be protected, adding that the trade volume between the two country is five billion U.S. dollars.
Putin said that Turkish companies made important investments in Russia and recalled that Blue Stream Project is about to be completed. He added that the project is the sign of the trust of two countries to a reliable partnership.
Concerning struggle with terrorism, Putin said that he wanted to thank for the ''tough and understandable'' attitude of Turkey after the theater raid in Moscow. Putin said that Turkey and Russia were active members of the coalition struggling with international terrorism, adding that cooperation in this field can be developed.
Erdogan said that he arrived in Russia with a delegation consisting 170 people and they would like to improve economic relations with this country.
Stressing that the relations between the two country will further develop by Blue Stream Project, Erdogan said that there were some difficulties due to some problems in the past, but it is necessary to overcome those difficulties.
Erdogan said that fighting against international terrorism is necessary and emphasized that Turkish government is working on this subject carefully, adding that terrorism does not have religion, language and race.
AK Party deputy leader for foreign affairs Saban Disli, Nazim Ekren and Istanbul deputy Omer Celik, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Sergeyevich Ivanov and Sergei Cemizov, first deputy chairman of Russia's official weapon exporter company Rosoboronexport, also attended the meeting.
Russia claims that they are presenting better conditions for Turkey's helicopter auction than the United States and is insistent to win the auction. The negotiations with Russia started again this year. When Turkey started negotiations with Russia, Moscow considered that their chance increased in the auction.