OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2009. Mr Medvedev and Mr Gul first had a one-on-one discussion and then were joined by their delegations for bilateral talks.

After the talks, the two Presidents signed a joint declaration on progress towards a new stage in Russian-Turkish relations and continued development of the friendship and multifaceted partnership between the two countries.

The document declared both countries’ satisfaction with their active contacts and also with their similarity of approaches and policies on important regional and international issues. 

In the economic area, the declaration calls for measures to be drawn up as rapidly as possible for ensuring free movement of goods, services and capital, development of reciprocal investment, cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, work together on projects part of the preparations for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and cooperation in the tourism and transport sectors, in particular the project for a rail and ferry link between Russia and Turkey.

The declaration also notes the important work of the Russian-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission on military-technical and defence industry cooperation. It also states the need to enhance the foundation of security agreements between the two countries.  

Noting the importance of stability in the South Caucasus for the Eurasian region’s security, Russia and Turkey declared the need for effective measures to settle the frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus. The two countries think that Turkey’s proposal to create platforms for cooperation in the Caucasus is a constructive idea. The declaration also notes the Black Sea region’s strategic importance and affirms Russia and Turkey’s resolve to work together on settling the region’s problems through cooperation in international organisations and at the bilateral level.