Erdogan: Ankara is ready to start the implementation of the "Turkish stream"

Ankara is ready to immediately take all the necessary steps for the implementation of the Turkish Stream project. This was announced in an interview with TASS on the eve of his visit to Russia by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“We are ready to discuss him and make a decision,” Erdogan emphasized. “There are no obstacles to this.”

According to the Turkish president, "Türkiye acquires the most gas from Russia." "According to the end of July 2016, the volume of natural gas imported from Russia amounted to 12.5 billion cubic meters. This shows how important the economic partner in this area is Türkiye," Erdogan said.

The Turkish President also expressed confidence in further cooperation with Russia in the field of tourism, saying that Ankara takes all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of tourists.

"At the moment, in Turkey, especially in tourist areas, there are no problems. We are decisively taking the necessary measures in these areas. At the moment, the coast is safe," said the Turkish president.

“Tourism brings our peoples closer. I am sure that, in the future, thanks to the arrival of Russians, our cooperation will develop,” he said. “The related ties of those who come from Russia to Turkey and from Turkey, who are married, also give impetus to development.”

The West, according to Erdogan , is engaged in the substitution of concepts and refers to Turkey with prejudices. “For some reason, the West is engaged in the substitution of concepts and hints at Turkey’s attempts to change its secular character. But this is not,” Erdogan noted. “Do not treat Turkey with prejudices. Those processes that are in European society, just the same way within Turkish society.”

In addition, the Turkish president emphasized that "in the matter of respect and ensuring democratic rights and freedoms, Türkiye has nothing to compare with the countries of the European Union."

In general, Erdogan expects negotiations with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg "will open a new page in the relations of the two countries."

"This will be a historical visit, a new beginning. In negotiations with my friend Vladimir, I believe, a new page will be opened in bilateral relations. Our countries have a lot to do together," he said.

"Without the participation of Russia, it is impossible to find solutions to the Syrian problem. Only in cooperation with Russia can we resolve the crisis in Syria," he added.

On July 20, Erdogan introduced a state of emergency in the country for a period of three months. On the night of July 16, a military coup was made in Turkey. However, Erdogan turned to the residents of the country with an appeal to take the streets and confront the rebels. As a result, the coup was suppressed.

After an unsuccessful attempt by a military coup in Turkey , at least 45 thousand people were detained, dismissed or removed from work. Among them, in addition to the military and police officers, were teachers, deans of universities and journalists, whom the Turkish authorities consider not enough loyal President Erdogan.

Relations between Moscow and Ankara deteriorated sharply after the Turkish Air Force on November 24, 2015 shot down the Russian Su-24 near the border with Syria. The pilot Oleg Peshkov was killed by the militants when he was descending by parachute. According to Ankara, the aircraft violated the airspace of Turkey in the area of ​​the border with Syria. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the aircraft was exclusively above the Syrian territory and that "there was no violations of the Turkish airspace."

At the end of June, the Kremlin said that Putin received a message from the Turkish president with an apology in connection with the death of the Russian bomber. The message says that Russia is a friend and strategic partner for Turkey, with whom the Turkish authorities would not want to spoil relations. “We never had a desire and deliberate intention to knock down a plane belonging to the Russian Federation,” the Kremlin quoted the text of the document.

Meanwhile, the press secretary of the Turkish President Ibrahim Kalyn said that Erdogan did not bring apology to Putin , but only expressed deep regret in connection with the incident. "The head of the Turkish state shared the pain of the loss with the family of the deceased Russian pilot and indicated that he was regretted," the official said.