President Erdoğan held a joint press conference with Russian President Putin, and said: "We mutually declare the year 2019 as 'Culture and Tourism Year'. Both Russia erecting a statue of Yunus Emre in Moscow and Turkey erecting a statue of Russia's first cosmonaut in Ankara, are major steps taken in this direction.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the opening of Turkey-Russia High Level Cooperation Council (CBRC) meeting in Kremlin Palace.

Erdoğan began his speech saying, "I would like to thank you for your kind invitation and sincere hospitality on my and my delegate's behalf," and underlining that Turkey and Russia took an important step for the region, he wished the council meeting to be beneficial for all countries.

Erdoğan said, "If you deem suitable, let's stop using the expression 'normalization' in our official statements from now on," and stated that they think those days are over.

Referring to his one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdoğan relayed that they discussed issues as economy and Syria, and they talk on regional and international affairs face to face, and frequently on telephone when necessary.

Erdoğan pointed out that political and diplomatic dialogue channels should be open at every level in this context and this is important in terms rapidly solving crises that may occur and spoke as follows: "I believe that the forum organized yesterday will perform operations that will lend impetus to human relations. We attach special importance to furthering trade and economic relations that are locomotives of our bilateral ties.”

President Erdoğan reminded that bilateral trade volume was 17 billion dollars last year, and emphasizing that there was a period when this figure was 38 billion dollars, Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:

"With an equable approach, we must work towards the goal of 100 billion dollar trade volume. With the agreements we will sign today, we will strengthen the conventional grounds of our economic relations. However after that, we need to rapidly take the necessary steps concerning economy.  In fact, I think it is important to revoke all existing sanctions completely and with urgency. I would once more like to remind this to my treasured friend. "

OPENING YUNUS EMRE ENSTİTÜSÜ IN MOSCOW

Informing that military and technical cooperation subject was also discussed, Erdoğan made the following assessment: "It is important for us to cooperate in this area. An issue I personally attach great importance to is human and cultural relations. We hereby mutually declare year 2019 as 'Culture and Tourism Year'. I believe that the activities to be held in this context will enable our peoples to get better acquainted with each other. Both  Russia erecting a statue of Yunus Emre in Moscow and Turkey erecting a statue of Russia's first cosmonaut in Ankara, are major steps taken in this regard.”

Underlining the need to regain speed in tourism, Erdoğan said, "I believe that you will encourage Russian people in this sense, and the process will gain considerable speed especially after Mir card is carried into effect, and such a payment method is offered.”

President Erdoğan marked that in case required groundwork is completed to inaugurate a Yunus Emre Enstitüsü centre in Moscow, he will make a high-level visit again for centre opening.

Visa exemption agreement

Erdoğan expressed that he deems it helpful to re-instruct co-chairman, secretary general and heads of sub-committees to further reciprocal dialogue in order to dynamize the forum.

Underlining that it is beneficial to carry out operations to revive the visa exemption agreement, Erdoğan spoke as follows: "I know that you currently work on some formulas in visa applications for Turkish businessmen, drivers who work in commercial carriage to Russia, air crews and official passports. We desire to achieve full exemption as soon as possible.”

"All of us have important tasks"

Relaying that they recently shared their assessments on Syria and fight against terrorism with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdoğan continued his speech as follows:

"All of us have important tasks to stop the bloodshed and provide stability in Syria. It is of great importance that we act in coordination in fight against terrorism. Our concerned authorities will soon hold consultations on this issue. We must demonstrate our resolute stance against ISIS in Syria towards other terrorist organizations. In this respect, we particularly expect for PKK's Syrian leg PYD's activities in Moscow to come to an end.

“You are aware of the importance we attach to the fight against FETO. I appreciate the sensitivity you have shown in this subject however we should keep in mind that this organization is skilled in applying the method of secretly carrying out its activities in various areas under different names. I believe that you will take the necessary steps concerning persons and organizations in St. Petersburg and Moscow, affiliated with this organization."

"We will continue to cooperate in matters related to security of the Black Sea"

Noting that solving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is also urgent, Erdoğan said, "The recent conflicts clearly reveal how critical the situation is, and that the risk of a new war between Azerbaijan and Armenia has risen. This is why we see it necessary to begin extensive negotiations as soon as possible."

Erdoğan stressed that Russia, a co-chairman of the Mins Group, could play a pioneering role in this sense and spoke as follows: "It is a shared interest to protect stability and security of the Black Sea. We will maintain the cooperation with you in subjects related to the security of the Black Sea with regional ownership approach. Black Sea Economic Cooperation is a common asset. I would hereby like to express that it will be our pleasure to host you in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Summit to be held in Istanbul on May 22^nd 2017 on the occasion of its 25^th establishment anniversary.”