Moscow-Ankara rapprochement 'a strong signal to the West'

Radio Sputnik discussed Russian-Turkish relations and the recent meeting between the leaders of the two countries with political expert Aydin Sezer and Turkish politician Nejat Kocer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to restore economic relations between the two countries. The statement came after the two leaders met in Saint-Petersburg on August 9.

Although he believes that the thaw in Moscow-Ankara relations won't significantly affect Turkey's policy toward the US and the EU, he is confident that Ankara will change its strategy in the Syrian crisis.

Relations between the two countries worsened drastically after Ankara shot down a Russian jet, which was on anti-terrorism mission in Syria. In June, President Erdogan sent a letter apologizing for the downing of the jet and expressed his condolences to the relatives of a pilot, who was killed by rebels after ejecting from his plane.

Prior to his visit to Russia, President Erdogan called President Putin his friend and noted that he wanted to open a new page in relations with Moscow. After the failed coup attempt in Turkey, Vladimir Putin expressed support for the Turkish leader and condemned the unlawful actions of the military.

After Tuesday's meeting President Putin promised to lift sanctions against Ankara step by step. Both leaders announced the restart of two major energy projects — the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the construction of Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey.