“Turkey- Russia Economic Relations Conference was held by SDE Economy and Works Council. The conference started with the opening speech of Prof. Dr. Yasin Aktay. Russian Federation Embassy undersecretary Aleksander Etifanov and the undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ali Boğa, also made speeches. The specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusuf Tekin is introduced the “New Russia” report in which the strategical and commercial relations recently have been evaluated and the economy, security, foreign policy and the strategical cooperation of Russia. The information about new jobs and investment opportunities were given from a first hand to the businessman and the participants at the conference.
At the conference which was chaired by Prof. Dr. Beril Dedeoğlu, the other spokespersons were: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Europe Deputy Director General, Head of Russian Department Gökhan Turan, Under secretariat of Foreign Trade, Commonwealth of Independent States Head of the department, Atakan Özdemir, Russian Federation Trade deputy representative Boris Selivanov, Ankara Chamber of Commerce head of the Foreign Trade committee Mustafa Altınay, Russia- Turkey Work and Friendship Association (RUTİD) representative of Moscow Muharrem Kaçmaz.
Dedeoğlu gave floor to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East Europe Deputy Director General, Head of Russian Department Gökhan Turan. Mr.Turan, evaluated Turkey-Russia political relationships. He mentioned that there has been no association of ideas so far and underlined the fact that both countries give importance to the friendship relations at most and there is no political matters. Notably Black sea, the Middle East, Iran subjects, about organizational and international issues both countries’ approaches are similar, he expressed. Different ideas which two countries possess about that Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo issues and those do not affect our relationships he said. While he was drawing attention to the importance of 2001 Eurasian co-operation Movement Plan and how it affected the mutual relations, he mentioned that with this plan the relations with Russia is not only improved in foreign affairs level but also improved the opportunity of communication at every level. He stressed the significance of the visit of the President Abdullah Gül in February 2009 to Russia and how it was important for the bilateral relations.
After Mr. Turan, Dedeoğlu gave the floor to the Under secretariat of Foreign Trade, Commonwealth of Independent States Head of the department, Atakan Özdemir. Especially mentioning the vitality of transportation and logistic, Mr. Özdemir, stated 1% of the decline in every delay in international trade between the countries. He emphasized that the inventory income of developed countries is 5 times bigger than developing countries; he also added the fact that Russia is the 7th biggest country in economics and 3rd in consuming petrol. “When looking at the growing rates of Russia, she didn’t get infected from 1997 economic crisis and the commercial and political security between two countries under the lights of the recent relations are extremely strategic” Mr. Özdemir said.
Russian Federation Trade deputy representative Boris Selivanov: “the relations for the last 2 years are highly dynamic. Last 6 months there were mutual visits of the high ranked leaders. With the visit of Medvedev on 11-13th of May, the relations are taken acceleration and with these relations radical changes occurred. More strategic and much comprehensive relationship network was improved. With the last visit of Medvedev, 17 treaties were signed. Again at this time, the High Level Co-operation Council with the leadership of Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin was established for continuation of the dialogues. The unit which works for the bilateral relationships between Russia and Turkey is Economy- Work Council. The Energy Minister Tamer Yıldız is the person who improves the relation between two countries. There are eight different working areas within these studies. Since 2008 Russia, took the first stage in Turkey’s foreign trade. But this rate diminished in 2009. Again with the visit of Medvedev the significant treaties were signed. The Prescription of the treaty of the South Stream natural gas pipeline project to put into practice, the treaty for the completion of the gas transportation construction until the end of the year, the railway treaty to supply the transportation from Caucasian to Samsun are very important for us. As a result bilateral relations will supply benefit for the relations in our societies”.
Ankara Chamber of Commerce, head of the Foreign Trade committee Mustafa Altınay: “the result of having zero-problem with our neighbors, our country has gain acceleration in every aspect. We laid the existed sectors on the table and thought hard how to send them abroad. Therefore we hold four fair abroad about it. However; to improve the trade in this process we understood that, we have to create a cultural interaction. I think that the commercial flow will improve with the result of such cultural interaction and at this point I see what we need to do is to rise cultural and commercial relations to a maximum level”.
Russia- Turkey Work and Friendship Association (RUTİD) representative of Moscow Muharrem Kaçmaz touched that; Russia is more different than before, the economic crises were seen in the country, and these crises put the people into difficult situations yet with the investments of the investors, which Russia developed, Russia turn into an investment area. Mr. Kaçmaz noted: “Russia has a very important intellectual society. It is a great value for the Russians. Investors from other countries realized this potential in Russia. This potential of course, includes mines. Infrastructure was that, the buildings were old... In consideration of these, the investors made great investments in Russia.”
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