PUTIN WILL VISIT ANKARA FROM THE SECOND ATTEMPT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The visit was to take place in September but it had been postponed because of the act of terror in Beslan. Putin has previously been to Turkey in the beginning of the 90's on the holidays with his family in Antaliya. But by that time he was not a president, but a usual KGB officer. But yet it's the first official visit of Russian head of state to Turkey during these 500 years of Russian -Turkish relations. Traditionally the Russians considered Turkey as an enemy country. Particularly the four Russian -Turkish Wars are of evidence. The feeble attempts of the former Turkish prime minister to get into contact with Russian leaders were not crowned with success. Boris Yeltsin refused to receive Bulent Ejevit who arrived in Moscow with an official meeting. On the contrary Putin gives an unambiguous signal of the readiness to be friends.

First of all it's a matter of economic interests. The interdependency of the economies of two countries grows every year. The commodity circulation is planned for 9 milliard dollars this year but according to some information it has already exceeded that number. The experts expect the turnover to amount to 20milliard. It should be noticed that the matter concerns a number which by 40 times exceeds the state budget of Armenia. Last year 1million 200thousand Russian tourists visited Turkey. This figure during the first six months of the current year comparing to the same period of last year increased by 50 per cents.

The cooperation of two countries has good prospects in the sphere of energy. This cooperation may infringe upon Armenia's interest. It is not inconceivable that during the visit the sides may discuss the possibility of Russia to supply to Turkey electrical energy generated in Armenia in electric power stations belonging to RAO UES. In spite of the statement of the Russian Premier Minister Mikhail Fradkov on the prospects of the Russian gas supply to south en route of Armenia, this question is hardly to be discussed seriously today. The Russians pay more attention to the Blue Stream Pipeline by means of which in the course of coming years 365bcm of gas will be supplied to Turkey. During the visit Vladimir Putin will try to obtain a guarantee that Ankara will completely fulfill its obligations within the framework of this project. Moreover, in the days of visit may be signed an agreement on investment in Turkish electric energy, gas-transport infrastructure and also underground gas-holder construction in Turkey.

The question of laying an oil pipeline from Turkish city Kyikey in the south-west coast of Black Sea to Ibrikhaba city in Aegean Sea will be discussed in Ankara. For the present considerable share of Russian oil still goes to the west on tankers through Bosporus. Turkey keeps on putting obstacles counting on political concessions from the Moscow side. The conditions of Russian oil-tankers' passing through the channels will certainly be touched upon on the meeting. Talking on communication it should be mentioned that during the negotiations Putin and Erdogan may also touch upon a topic of straight railway service opening between Moscow and Ankara. As everybody knows the only trunk-railway linking Russia and Turkey lays trough Armenia and now is blocked by the Turkish side.

The Turks count on the possibility to convince Putin to use his ascendancy upon the European leaders to soften their position concerning the membership of Turkey in the EU. During Putin's visit a special attention will be paid to military cooperation. The Minister of Defense Sergey Ivanov is a member of the delegation headed by Vledimir Putin. With his Turkish colleague he will discuss the organization of Ka-50-2 helicopter production in Turkey. Besides, the experts believe that during the visit the situation of the 2.5-3milliard dollar contract on supplies of 145 fighting machine to Turkey will be made clear. The Americans also take part in the tender for the execution of this order.

Putins visit is a good reason for Erdogan to strengthen personal contacts with the Head of the Great Power.

According to some Turkish media, Recep Erdogn is even going to suggest Putin being godfather on his daughter's wedding. As everybody knows in July on his elder daughter's Esru's wedding the godfather was the Prime Minister of Greek Costas Karamanlis, in last August on his son's Bilal's wedding this mission was entrusted to the Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berluskoni. The Turkish prime minister has a chance to become related with the Head of Russia. This chance is his youngest daughter Sumeye. The problem is that she is too young and does not want to get married at all. But the commentators expect Erdogan to insist on the immediate marriage with the first young man for the sake of personal contact with Valdimir Putin. But it is still unknown if Putin himself would like to become Erdogan's relative.