NEWSLINK: Putin visits Turkey amid differences over Syria
[Putin visits Turkey amid differences over Syria – AP – Vladimir Isachenkov – Dec. 3, 2012 – click here for full article]
AP covers Russian President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Turkey, focusing on growing trade while also in the midst of concerns over the conflict in Turkey’s neighbor Syria, as well as questions about Putin’s health:
The blossoming trade relationship will be the focus of a one-day trip to Turkey by Russian President Vladimir Putin, though differences between the two countries over the conflict in Syria will likely be aired.
Putin’s visit … is his first trip in two months … [feeding] speculation that the 60-year-old … is suffering from serious back trouble or another illness. His spokesman has attributed Putin’s discomfort to a pulled muscle …
… Turkey is likely to argue for tougher action against Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Kremlin has shown no inclination of relinquishing its support for its last Middle East ally, whom it has shielded from international sanctions and continued to provide with weapons during an escalating civil war.
… Turkey … is a top consumer of Russian natural gas, while Russia is a major market for Turkish construction companies.
Some of the controversies over Syria, Turkey and Russia have included Russian vetoes of attempted UN Security Council sanctions, Russian arms shipments to Syria before and during the bloody Syrian civil war, Turkey’s detaining a Russian plane en route to Syria, and Patriot missiles to be provided by NATO for Turkey’s defense:
Russia and China have used their veto power at the U.N. Security Council to block any U.N. sanctions on Assad’s regime over its crackdown on an uprising that began in March 2011. Advocates say at least 40,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting …
Moscow has also insisted that it would honor weapons contracts signed earlier with Syria for the delivery of anti-ship and air-defense missiles. Despite Western demands to halt the trade …
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In October, Russia reacted angrily to Turkey’s decision to force a Syria-bound passenger plane flying from Moscow to land in Turkey because Turkish officials said there was military equipment on board. Moscow said the plane was legally carrying radar parts …
Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, has said … the cargo, which has remained in Turkish hands, belongs to Syria.
And while Russia has voiced concern about the planned deployment of NATO’s Patriot air-defense missiles on Turkey’s border with Syria, it has carefully balanced its statements on the subject and avoided any sharp criticism of Turkey itself.
Turkish-Russian trade is growing, including a planned nuclear plant:
The talks are ostensibly meant to focus on trade. Ushakov said trade between the two countries, which totaled $32 billion last year, is expected to grow to $100 billion in the coming years.
Among other projects, Russia is building Turkey’s first nuclear power plant. Turkey is also a top travel destination for Russians, with more than 3.5 million Russian tourists visiting last year.