NATURAL ALLIES – Russia, Turkey

‘We’ve re-discovered you,’ said Russian President Vladimir Putin. Summing up Russia’s official stance, this sentence is reflected across all areas of relations between our countries. Moreover, as some official voices have said, there is a will to enter a ‘new era which is transparent and encourages trust, and where actions are taken with the understanding that seeking cooperation results from natural partnership.’ Trade between our countries has reached $6.5 billion. The economic indicators are good. Is everything so positive? I think so, excepting some security problems which we should be able to overcome but still play an important role in improving bilateral ties.

During Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov’s visit to Turkey in 2001, Moscow and Ankara pledged security cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Moscow asked Ankara to act against those linked to terrorists in Chechnya, but this never came to fruition for either side. Security is a very sensitive element in Turkish-Russian relations. Changing the state administration, Putin ushered in a new, all-powerful presidency. Putin will never make concessions on Chechnya anytime soon. Russian-US cooperation in the fight against international terrorism is continuing.

One can find see that Putin is bothered by Russian tankers being delayed in the Turkish Straits. Developments in Russia’s oil policy lie behind these complaints. Transneft stated that crude oil would be transported to Western markets via the Black and North Seas. Russian experts say that this export route would cut transportation costs and make the oil more economical. Moscow seems to insist on this policy. What about the straits? Turkey’s sensitivity on this issue is not only in our interest, but also in Russia’s. I hope that our new era of cooperation creates a basis to make Moscow share this understanding.”