Turkey's PM wants to lift visa with Russia

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish economy would recover quickly in 2010.

Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently in Russian capital Moscow on a state visit, met with Turkish businessmen operating in Russia.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "our economy will recover quickly in 2010. International organizations also confirmed that Turkey will become one of the countries with the highest rate of growth in 2010. Russian economy has also begun recovering. These developments will have positive impacts on our bilateral commercial relations."

"We are on the eve of establishing an inter-governmental high-level cooperation council with Russia. After establishment of the council, a new era will begin in Turkey-Russia relations," he said.

Prime Minister Erdogan said that he would propose Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to remove visa proceedings between Turkey and Russia during their scheduled meeting on Wednesday.

"An important part of Turkey-Russia relations is energy. Turkey is expected to draw energy investments worth of nearly 100 billion USD in the next two decades. I believe that it will lead to significant cooperation opportunitiesfor both Turkish and Russian companies. This means that Russian private sector can make more investments in Turkey," he said.

"Another topic which is high on agenda of talks between Turkish and Russian officials is establishment of a Turkish logistics center in souther part of Russia," he said.

He is set to meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitriy Medvedev on Wednesday.

After attending a conference on Turkish foreign policy at the Diplomacy Academy, Prime Minister Erdogan will partake in a banquet with Putin.

Erdogan is expected to return to Turkey on Wednesday evening.

State Minister Zafer Caglayan, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Minister Mehdi Eker, and Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim are accompanying Erdogan during his visit to Russia.

/World Bullletin/