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Russia
will move forward S-400 delivery dates for Turkey – Putin after
meeting Erdogan
RT,
3
March, 2018
During
Vladimir Putin’s first foreign visit since his election last month,
the Russian and Turkish presidents agreed to broaden military
cooperation, and launched the construction of the country's first
nuclear power plant.
At
a press conference in Ankara, Putin announced that Russia would push
forward its delivery dates for the S-400 defense systems, which are
now due after a contract was signed between the two countries in
December, despite objections from Turkey’s NATO allies.
“We
are speeding up production, and we have finalized the prices, which
is very important,” Putin said, while standing next to Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. “In terms of shortening the delivery schedule, we have
done this at the request of our Turkish friends and partners.”
Putin
did not specify when Ankara would receive Moscow’s most
sophisticated export air defense system, but said that there were “no
political or strategic limitations” to technology-sharing that
could eventually see Turkey produce its own version of the radar and
rocket complex, and said that producers of other weapons systems were
keen to enter the local market.
"The
distance we have covered in our relations with Russia in the last 15
years is very important,” said Erdogan.
Earlier,
the two leaders participated via video link in the joint
ground-breaking of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant on the country’s
southern coast, which will be built by a Russian company at a cost of
$20 billion, which is expected to be sourced via a joint consortium.
“We
are not just kick-starting the construction of Turkey’s first
nuclear plant, we are founding Turkey’s nuclear sector,” said the
Russian president, of a project that had been mooted over the past
three years.
“We
aim to produce the first energy unit in 2023. We will be doing so on
the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. When all units are
in operation, the nuclear plant will supply 10 percent of Turkey’s
electricity demand.”
The
two sides confirmed their commitment to the in-progress $12 billion
Turkstream gas pipeline project, the overland segment of which,
according to Russian officials, is still awaiting a permit from
Turkish authorities. Additionally, Moscow and Ankara have announced
the creation of a joint state investment fund, valued at an initial
$1 billion, which will look for economic opportunities that benefit
both countries.
Gregor Peter
Moëz BHAR
CNN Türk ENG
