2nd LD Writethru: Putin says meeting with Erdogan key for future ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday's meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan was very important for the future of bilateral ties.

"We've had a comprehensive and constructive (talks), I would like to emphasize, we discussed a broad range of issues including bilateral relations and global issues," Putin told a press conference after his meeting with Erdogan.

"I believe that we have all the necessary prerequisites and opportunities for fully restoring the relations between our two countries which would help strengthen both regional and global stability," Putin added.

He said the visit of Erdogan, despite the difficult political situation in Turkey caused by the failed coup attempt on July 15, showed that Ankara really wanted to restore bilateral cooperation.

To promote bilateral economic cooperation, the two presidents talked about the Turkish stream pipeline project and construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, as well as ways to revive tourism.

Putin also announced a mid-term cooperation program that spans the year 2016 to 2019, and also intergovernmental commissions of the two countries would resume contacts.

Talks in narrow and broad format outlined initial objectives for long-term restoration of relations, aiming to reach pre-crisis level of bilateral cooperation, said Putin.

Moreover, more meetings would be held for major companies of the two countries to discuss revival of mutual trade, investment and implementation of key projects.

"We intend to gradually cancel the special economic measures limiting Turkish companies' activities in Russian market," Putin said.

On the Syrian crisis, the Russian president reiterated that his country was determined to find a compromise on the issue with Ankara.

"As far as coordination of our views and methods is concerned, it is possible because we have a joint goal. The joint goal is the settlement of the Syrian crisis. I believe that we shall look for satisfactory joint decisions on this basis, based on this mutual approach," Putin said.

He added that more specific meetings would be held on issues related to the settlement of Syrian crisis.

Erdogan, on his part, expressed the hope for the resumption of charter flights between the two countries, as well as mutual trade and activities of Turkish construction contractors.

"Putin and I have found similar position on normalization of bilateral relations, while we agreed to use the capacities of the two countries to maintain regional stability," Erdogan concluded.

"We believe the Russian-Turkish relation is much more stable than it has ever been, which will help us to confront all kinds of crises," said Erdogan.

The meeting between the two leaders was their first since Ankara downed one of Moscow's warplanes last November, which sparked a diplomatic crisis as well as Russia's economic sanctions. Endit