Ankara, Moscow for increased cooperation to solve Syrian crisis

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and his Russian counterpart Dimitri Medvedev Tuesday said the two countries were ready to put behind the troubled period that dragged down their relations and will continue to strengthen ties, underscoring their willingness for increased cooperation to solve the Syrian crisis.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Moscow, both leaders said their meeting focused on cooperation in various fields including the Syrian crisis, anti-terror measures, as well as energy and trade.

Both leaders said talks and cooperation on the Syrian crisis have been continuing and efforts for establishing peace have progressed. Medvedev emphasized that the issues regarding foreign policies have generally been discussed between the presidents of the two countries. "We also took on the issue. Syria is in a really hard situation. Peace can be installed in the country only by establishing interior stability. There is a direct dialogue between the two presidents about the issue as well as our militaries. It is important since we didn't have that kind of communication in the past. And I'm sure that this dialogue will continue," said the Russian prime minister.

Yıldırım said he thinks a solution in the country was much "closer than it was in past." The Prime Minister said Turkey aims to prevent all threats stemmed from terrorist organizations including Daesh, the PKK and PYD, as well as making it possible for refugees to return to their country.

Responding to a question by a Russian journalist who asked whether Turkey was completely secure for Russian tourists, PM Yıldırım said all kinds of measures were taken for the security of tourists and it is much safer now than any point in the past.

"The terror threat is present in every country. But, it does not mean we wouldn't take necessary measures against it. There is more effort on the issue now compared to the past. We support physical precautions along intelligence sharing. Hosting our visitors in the best way possible and safety for them is guaranteed under the Turkish state," he said.

Relations between the two countries soured in November 2015 after Turkish jets downed a Russian Su-24 bomber near the Syrian border for violating Turkish airspace. Turkey provided radar data showing the Russian planes had breached the border while Moscow insisted that the warplane did not.

In the wake of the crisis, Erdoğan and Putin exchanged harsh criticisms and ultimatums while the Kremlin directed accusations at Ankara and imposed sanctions on various Turkish sectors.

Tension between the two countries thawed when President Erdoğan expressed regrets for the downing of the jet in June and the relations between the two countries entered a new phase after a meeting between Erdoğan and Putin in St. Petersburg on Aug. 9.