Putin, Erdogan agree on steps to mend relations

World Today

An employee of a flag-making factory folds a Russian flag as a Turkish flag adorns the display at left, in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives in Russia Tuesday for his first overseas trip since the coup attempt. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that the two nations can rebuild their damaged ties and make them even closer.

CCTV’s Julia Lyubova reports.

Calling Putin his “dear friend,” Erdogan said Turkey is ready to implement a natural gas pipeline project with Russia and a deal to build Turkey’s first nuclear power plant.

Putin, in his turn, said that the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey, halted after the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey in November, will resume.

Putin added that he and Erdogan will have a separate discussion on Syria later Tuesday involving top military and intelligence officials to search for common ground in the crisis, where Moscow and Ankara have backed the opposing sides.

Story by the Associated Press


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