Russia, Turkey reach strategic partnership in energy sphere - Lavrov

MOSCOW, May 27 (Itar-Tass) - Russia and Turkey have reached strategic partnership in energy sphere, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the fourth meeting of the Russian-Turkish strategic planning group in which visiting Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu had participated. “We have noted our attained successes, primarily in the energy sphere, where our co-operation had reached the level of strategic partnership,” Lavrov stated. “The format of the strategic planning joint group acts within the top-level co-operation council which had proved convincingly for last few years that it is needed as an effective mechanism to determine ways to build up and improve multifaceted Russian-Turkish co-operation,” the Russian minister noted. Negotiators debated bilateral relations in detail, Lavrov noted, adding that Turkey was among Russia’s key economic partners. The Russian foreign minister noted the two countries were determined “to do everything that depends from foreign political agencies to promote attainment of the task which President Putin and Prime Minister Erdogan had set to increase bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars within next few years.” “We noted successful progress of implementing the South Stream gas project and the construction of a first Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu by Russian specialists,” the Russian top diplomat noted. The foreign ministers also discussed humanitarian co-operation. Lavrov recalled that the Russian centre of science and culture had been inaugurated in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, this year. A Turkish cultural centre is expected to be opened in Moscow, the minister said. “Russia and Turkey are intensifying exchanges at the level of regions as well as in the sphere of education,” the Russian foreign minister noted, adding that “We actively welcome all this.” Learn more on itar-tass.com