Dmitry Medvedev: Russia, Turkey set ambitious goalsJanuary 13, 2010 - 17:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia and Turkey have set ambitious goals, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev finds.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev praised energy cooperation with Turkey on Wednesday and said he looked to joint efforts in addressing regional disputes. Meeting with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at his country residence near Moscow, Medvedev highlighted joint gas and oil projects: "We are happy to maintain serious cooperation in this sphere." Russia and Turkey signed energy deals in August 2009, which will support Turkey's drive to become a regional hub for gas and oil transits while helping Moscow diversify supply routes and potentially maintain its monopoly on natural gas shipments from Asia to Europe. Turkey allowed Russia's Gazprom to use its sector of the Black Sea for the South Stream pipeline to pump Russian and Central Asian gas to Europe bypassing Ukraine. And Russia agreed to join a consortium to build the Samsun-Ceyhan oil pipeline from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The two states also agreed to expand the existing Blue Stream gas pipeline for possible shipments via Turkey to Cyprus and Israel. Russia was also reported to be seeking to take part in the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plants. Echoing the Russian leader, Erdogan highlighted the importance of energy ties and said their countries enjoy "an exemplary cooperation" in the sector. Medvedev said he hoped Erdogan's current visit will promote "stronger ties between our countries," which he said were important for "addressing complicated regional problems," RIA Novosti reported Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |