Alwaght- The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that his expected talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin carried the potentials of opening new page in the Russian-Turkish relations.
The Turkish leader is expected to visit St. Petersburg, Russia on 9 August, according to Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek.
The visit is supposed to gather together the president of Turkey with his Russian counterpart in first face to face meeting since Moscow and Ankara began process to mend ties damaged by shooting down of a Russian bomber last year over Syria by Turkish fighter jets while the aircraft was en route to airbase returning from an anti-terror bombing task in northern Syria.
"It will be a historical visit, a new start. I believe talks with my friend Vladimir will open up a new page in bilateral relations. Our countries have a lot to do together,” TASS reported, quoting words of the Turkish president just two days before he flies to Russia.
The two countries started to repair relations following an apology offered by Erdogan to Russia's Putin for downing of Russian SU-24 bomber in November 2015, which Ankara claimed violated its airspace and was targeted after several warnings.
Following the downing, the relations of them went chilled, with Russia imposing a set of sanctions on Turkey, including revoking of visa-free deal and ban on Turkish food imported to Russia.
Syria high on meeting agenda
The Turkish leader told the Russian news agency that Russia's participation in Syrian war against terrorism was "vitally important." The Russian participation could help find a settlement for the Syrian crisis, according to Erdogan.
The Turkish president told TASS: "it is impossible to find a solution to the Syrian problem without Russia's participation. We can settle the crisis in Syria only in cooperation with Russia.”
Ankara and Turkey have been supporting opposite sides of the conflict in Syria.
Russia started its anti-terror air campaign in Syria on 30 September 2015. It provided air cover to the Syrian forces which have begun to pinch the foreign-backed terrorists who are holding ground across the country. The air raids of the Russian jets and bombers helped tipping the scales in favor of the forces of Syrian government.
Turkey, however, chose to help the other side; the armed groups fighting to seize the power from the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey allowed, through its borders, delivery of weapons and equipment to a set of anti-Assad armed forces, including al-Nusra Front, the affiliate of Al-Qaeda terrorist group in Syria, and Jaysh al-Islam, both holding a tight grasp over Aleppo in northern Syria.
The recent developments, including those taking place in Syrian battlefields like the underway blockade of terrorist groups in Aleppo, are said to have affected Erdogan’s shift of stances on both Russia and Syria.
Economic pushes
Furthermore, just before the downing of the Russian bomber, Turkey and Russia enjoyed perfect economic partnership. But Moscow’s sanctions on Ankara have crippled the trade stream between the two countries.
A large number of Russian tourists were hosted by Turkey all year around. But cancellation of visa-free deal restricted their flowing to Turkey.
Additionally, food products that used to be sent to Russia from Turkey have lost their market following the rift.
So, now Turkey's Erdogan is hoping that his Russia visit restores Moscow as trusted trade partner of Ankara.
