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AYDYN ADNAN SEZGIN: "APPROACHING BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE REGION"
Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 13 2012
Russia
Interview by Faud Safarov. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Turkey in Russia,
Aydyn Adnan Sezgin, told Vestnik Kavkaza on Ankara's view on the
current level of Turkish-Russian cooperation, the position on Syria,
the missile defense system, and the Karabakh settlement.
- How can you characterize the current relations between Turkey
and Russia?
- I am glad to state that relations between Turkey and Russia are
developing rapidly in all spheres. There are no problems in the
bilateral political relations. Diversification of our economic
cooperation is taking place, and it develops widely: from energy
and construction to tourism and automobile industry. I am sure that
the volume of trade turnover will surpass $38 billion in the nearest
future, i.e. the rate which was reached in 2008 ahead of the financial
crisis. I am also sure that we will achieve the goal which was voiced
by our leaders - $100 billion.
In this context I would like to touch on mutual investments. Turkish
and Russian companies establish wide opportunities for business and
new working places due to mutual investments in $10 billion both
in Turkey and Russia. We expect that these figures will grow. I am
glad to see how people of our countries learn about each other and
recognize similar features due to tourism and the humanitarian sphere.
Cultural centers which are planned to be opened in the nearest future
in both countries will improve the process.
The Council on Top Level Cooperation was established as a joint
conference of the Ministers Council which is gathered once a year under
chairmanship of the Turkish prime minister and Russian President. The
Council controls three bodies. The Joint strategic Group on Planning
is headed by foreign ministers and is dealt with possibilities of
cooperation in the sphere of foreign policy. Of course our positions
may be different in various international affairs. At the same
time, both countries have an opportunity to conduct open friendly
consultations. We believe it is important. On the other hand, Turkey
and Russia want to develop bilateral relations.
The economic cooperation issues are considered by the Mixed Economic
Committee. We also have the Public Forum which involves business
circles, artists, representatives of the mass media from both
countries. I think the picture can be described in the following
way: Turkish-Russian relations are at the level of consistent
transformation. A step made in one sphere stimulates cooperation in
another sphere. It happens not accidentally. Our states have common
views on the developments in the world. Our relations are mutually
beneficial. Negotiations which will take place within the visit by
President Putin to Turkey and the agreements which will be signed
will speed up the process.
- In recent years the level of trade turnover between the countries has
grown. What aims does Turkey have in economic cooperation with Russia?
- We are glad to see that Turkish-Russian economic and trade relations
are developing since the early 1990s. They diversify and deepen. Russia
is the major trade partner of Turkey. In 2011 the trade turnover
between our countries was about $30 billion. In first nine months
of 2012 it reached $24.4 billion which means that by the end of the
year the trade turnover will be about $35 billion. The common aim of
the Russian and Turkish authorities is achievement of the volume in
$100 billion. The leaders of two countries have many times stated on
this target.
The general sum of contracts gained by Turkish contractors is $40
billion since the 1990s to the present day. Turkish contractors
achieved big success in conducted works in Russia, and today they
have the same potential. Turkish companies are dealing with important
projects which are connected with the Student Olympic Games 2013 in
Kazan and the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi. We are sure that
Turkish company will fulfill their duties perfectly, and the projects
will bring benefits both to Sochi and Kazan.
We want our companies to build important infrastructural facilities
for the Football World Cup 2018 which will be held in various Russian
cities. Today Turkish investments into Russia surpass $10 billion,
and the volume of Russian investments into Turkey is growing in recent
years, first of all in such spheres as energy, communication, banking,
and iron industry.
We believe that joint investments by businessmen from both countries
into third countries of the Eurasian area will provide Turkish-Russian
economic cooperation with new opportunities.
- Arab spring was a big surprise for the whole world. Do Russia and
Turkey have similar interests in front of instability in the region?
- The position of the experts is that changes in the region were
unavoidable. But I believe the speed of changes and their scale became
a surprise for certain circles.
As for Turkey and Russia, they have similar views on some aspects of
the process, on other - different views. The international society
shares common ideas about transformations in the region. It concerns
the crisis in Syria too. Our mutual aim is stoppage of bloodshed in
Syria and establishing of the constitution which would protect the
country's unity and territorial integrity. We want to see Syria where
all layers of the population would feel safe, peaceful and calm Syria.
There are various views on how to reach the goal. Turkey and Russia
discuss the issue at the level of experts and leaders of the country.
- The missile defense system launched in Europe became a problem in
relations between the US and Russia. A part of the system will be
located in Turkey. What is Turkey's position on the issue? How does
it correlate the fact that Ankara cooperates with Iran intensively,
against which the missile defense system is directed?
- The radar of early warning which is an element of the missile defense
system is located in the province of Malatya. The NATO missile defense
system - as it is stressed in its name - has a defensive character. It
was developed for defense of the territory of the North Atlantic
Alliance from foreign missiles. I would like to draw your attention
to the fact that the missile defense system is not directed against
any certain country. Therefore, the states which have no aggressive
intensions shouldn't be afraid of the defense system.
Turkish-Iranian relations have a firm ground. Maintenance of mutual
trust is the main priority for us.
- Moscow and Ankara established contacts on settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia was involved
into the process of approaching Armenia and Turkey. What is the
current position of Turkey on these international issues?
- Relations between Turkey and Russia based on a historic ground
have gained a full scale in recent years. We are ready to make
necessary steps for enrichment of cooperation. We are happy to see
that the Russian side has the same will. Approaching of Turkey and
Russia is very beneficial for the region. Both countries experience
direct influence of the current problems in the regions. Open and
friendly discussion of these themes between Turkey and Russia is very
important. In this context the sincere dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh
between Turkey and Russia satisfies us. Answering the second part of
your question, I would like to say that our main interest in the South
Caucasus is settlement of the current political conflicts by peaceful
means and turning it into the region of stability and cooperation.
Progress is of high need in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. It should be provided according to the international law and
within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This process has to be
peaceful. Turkey wants to develop relations with all their neighbors.
Continuation of the process is connected with the will of Armenia to
settle problems with their neighbors. It is necessary that Armenia
should demonstrate a constructive position on the issue. Turkey
believes in necessity of shifting the status quo to the course of
complete normalization.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/33647.html
Vestnik Kavkaza
Nov 13 2012
Russia
Interview by Faud Safarov. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Turkey in Russia,
Aydyn Adnan Sezgin, told Vestnik Kavkaza on Ankara's view on the
current level of Turkish-Russian cooperation, the position on Syria,
the missile defense system, and the Karabakh settlement.
- How can you characterize the current relations between Turkey
and Russia?
- I am glad to state that relations between Turkey and Russia are
developing rapidly in all spheres. There are no problems in the
bilateral political relations. Diversification of our economic
cooperation is taking place, and it develops widely: from energy
and construction to tourism and automobile industry. I am sure that
the volume of trade turnover will surpass $38 billion in the nearest
future, i.e. the rate which was reached in 2008 ahead of the financial
crisis. I am also sure that we will achieve the goal which was voiced
by our leaders - $100 billion.
In this context I would like to touch on mutual investments. Turkish
and Russian companies establish wide opportunities for business and
new working places due to mutual investments in $10 billion both
in Turkey and Russia. We expect that these figures will grow. I am
glad to see how people of our countries learn about each other and
recognize similar features due to tourism and the humanitarian sphere.
Cultural centers which are planned to be opened in the nearest future
in both countries will improve the process.
The Council on Top Level Cooperation was established as a joint
conference of the Ministers Council which is gathered once a year under
chairmanship of the Turkish prime minister and Russian President. The
Council controls three bodies. The Joint strategic Group on Planning
is headed by foreign ministers and is dealt with possibilities of
cooperation in the sphere of foreign policy. Of course our positions
may be different in various international affairs. At the same
time, both countries have an opportunity to conduct open friendly
consultations. We believe it is important. On the other hand, Turkey
and Russia want to develop bilateral relations.
The economic cooperation issues are considered by the Mixed Economic
Committee. We also have the Public Forum which involves business
circles, artists, representatives of the mass media from both
countries. I think the picture can be described in the following
way: Turkish-Russian relations are at the level of consistent
transformation. A step made in one sphere stimulates cooperation in
another sphere. It happens not accidentally. Our states have common
views on the developments in the world. Our relations are mutually
beneficial. Negotiations which will take place within the visit by
President Putin to Turkey and the agreements which will be signed
will speed up the process.
- In recent years the level of trade turnover between the countries has
grown. What aims does Turkey have in economic cooperation with Russia?
- We are glad to see that Turkish-Russian economic and trade relations
are developing since the early 1990s. They diversify and deepen. Russia
is the major trade partner of Turkey. In 2011 the trade turnover
between our countries was about $30 billion. In first nine months
of 2012 it reached $24.4 billion which means that by the end of the
year the trade turnover will be about $35 billion. The common aim of
the Russian and Turkish authorities is achievement of the volume in
$100 billion. The leaders of two countries have many times stated on
this target.
The general sum of contracts gained by Turkish contractors is $40
billion since the 1990s to the present day. Turkish contractors
achieved big success in conducted works in Russia, and today they
have the same potential. Turkish companies are dealing with important
projects which are connected with the Student Olympic Games 2013 in
Kazan and the Winter Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi. We are sure that
Turkish company will fulfill their duties perfectly, and the projects
will bring benefits both to Sochi and Kazan.
We want our companies to build important infrastructural facilities
for the Football World Cup 2018 which will be held in various Russian
cities. Today Turkish investments into Russia surpass $10 billion,
and the volume of Russian investments into Turkey is growing in recent
years, first of all in such spheres as energy, communication, banking,
and iron industry.
We believe that joint investments by businessmen from both countries
into third countries of the Eurasian area will provide Turkish-Russian
economic cooperation with new opportunities.
- Arab spring was a big surprise for the whole world. Do Russia and
Turkey have similar interests in front of instability in the region?
- The position of the experts is that changes in the region were
unavoidable. But I believe the speed of changes and their scale became
a surprise for certain circles.
As for Turkey and Russia, they have similar views on some aspects of
the process, on other - different views. The international society
shares common ideas about transformations in the region. It concerns
the crisis in Syria too. Our mutual aim is stoppage of bloodshed in
Syria and establishing of the constitution which would protect the
country's unity and territorial integrity. We want to see Syria where
all layers of the population would feel safe, peaceful and calm Syria.
There are various views on how to reach the goal. Turkey and Russia
discuss the issue at the level of experts and leaders of the country.
- The missile defense system launched in Europe became a problem in
relations between the US and Russia. A part of the system will be
located in Turkey. What is Turkey's position on the issue? How does
it correlate the fact that Ankara cooperates with Iran intensively,
against which the missile defense system is directed?
- The radar of early warning which is an element of the missile defense
system is located in the province of Malatya. The NATO missile defense
system - as it is stressed in its name - has a defensive character. It
was developed for defense of the territory of the North Atlantic
Alliance from foreign missiles. I would like to draw your attention
to the fact that the missile defense system is not directed against
any certain country. Therefore, the states which have no aggressive
intensions shouldn't be afraid of the defense system.
Turkish-Iranian relations have a firm ground. Maintenance of mutual
trust is the main priority for us.
- Moscow and Ankara established contacts on settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia was involved
into the process of approaching Armenia and Turkey. What is the
current position of Turkey on these international issues?
- Relations between Turkey and Russia based on a historic ground
have gained a full scale in recent years. We are ready to make
necessary steps for enrichment of cooperation. We are happy to see
that the Russian side has the same will. Approaching of Turkey and
Russia is very beneficial for the region. Both countries experience
direct influence of the current problems in the regions. Open and
friendly discussion of these themes between Turkey and Russia is very
important. In this context the sincere dialogue on Nagorno-Karabakh
between Turkey and Russia satisfies us. Answering the second part of
your question, I would like to say that our main interest in the South
Caucasus is settlement of the current political conflicts by peaceful
means and turning it into the region of stability and cooperation.
Progress is of high need in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. It should be provided according to the international law and
within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This process has to be
peaceful. Turkey wants to develop relations with all their neighbors.
Continuation of the process is connected with the will of Armenia to
settle problems with their neighbors. It is necessary that Armenia
should demonstrate a constructive position on the issue. Turkey
believes in necessity of shifting the status quo to the course of
complete normalization.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/interviews/politics/33647.html