Cavusoglu: Moscow, Ankara to develop bilateral relations
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On the 5th anniversary of the assassination of the Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, the Turkish FM affirms that joint efforts to develop the relationship between the two countries are a tribute to the late ambassador.
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Cavusoglu: Moscow and Ankara have a "strong common will to develop bilateral relations."
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Moscow and Ankara have a "strong common will to develop bilateral relations," noting that there are "power centers that want to undermine relations between Turkey and Russia."
In an interview for Sputnik on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the assassination of the Russian Ambassador in Ankara Andrei Karlov, Oglu added that the joint efforts to improve relations between the two countries are to honor Karlov's memory and his contribution to them.
"Five years have passed since the death of Ambassador Andrei Karlov as a result of a treacherous assassination. The attack on Ambassador Karlov was an attack on Turkish-Russian friendship. However, Turkey and Russia did not fall into this trap, so those who wanted to harm the Turkish-Russian friendship were disappointed," Cavusoglu said.
The Foreign Minister emphasized that the assassination was a terrorist act and expressed solidarity with Russia.
According to Turkish authorities, the attack was carried out by police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, who was gunned down by security forces following the assassination. Charges were brought against 28 suspects, including opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, who denied all accusations.
In March of this year, an Ankara court sentenced five suspects to life in prison, whereas eight others received between three and 15 years in prison.
Turkish-Russian relations
Cavusoglu pointed out that relations between Turkey and Russia have witnessed a dynamic development at the bilateral and regional levels during the past five years since Karlov's assassination.
He also stressed the intensive continuation of contact at all levels, stressing the common will to develop bilateral relations, which are gradually developing in trade, energy, tourism, culture, and other fields.
He revealed that the volume of trade exchange between Turkey and Russia this year will approach $30 billion.
Turkey has no interest in confronting Russia in the event that it invades Ukraine, despite growing defense ties cemented by Ankara's sales of armed drones to Kiev, a Turkish official told Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity.
US media had reported on Turkey's position in case a military conflict breaks out between Russia and Ukraine, as Ankara had announced on several occasions its support for Kiev over Crimea. Turkey also expressed its readiness to work to reduce tension between Russia and Ukraine.
