Historical Visit of President Putin
A first has been performed in Turkish and Russian relationship, which has been based on 512 years before. It has been the first time that Russian Head of State visits Turkey after 32 years. We have faced with a very different view when we ask the meaning of this visit and when we evaluate according to the strategically importance.
Beyond the two powerful determining roles of Russia and Turkey in the region, the relationship of the two countries depends on a long historical depth. Russia has still been very important for us with its effectiveness and seriousness either in bilateral relations, either in the close environment of Turkey or in global context.
It is possible to see the marks of stable policy, being performed in political field of both countries, in economical field as well. Especially, it has been seen that there has been a progress towards multi-sized cooperation for the last three years. In my opinion it will be very profitable for future to have advanced phase of the relation between us and Russia. We have been in intense cooperation in lots of issues such as from commerce to energy projects, from contracting services to tourism. Our businessmen and governmental organizations have been continuously working in order to have deep relationship in every filed and to improve our cooperation on the base of mutual profit by not reconciling ourselves to the achieved level.
The Soviet Russia financial aid and the role of first industry plants, established with the support of SSRU cannot be disregard in industrilization of Turkey in 1930s, which had a financial struggle after the political independence with the proclamation of the Republic. Russia, our neigbourhood in the North, became an alternative cooperation center against West, even during Cold War years, when Turkey has had problems in political relations especailly with USA and West in various periods. Various kind of technical and technological opportunities were supplied from Soviet Union which turkish economy needed during the period when relations with West became in crisis especaially regarding Cyprus issue after 1960. Therefore, great industry complexes, metallurgical industry, chemistry and oil refining plant which were established by Soviet Union in serious industrialization period of the Republic, started in 1970s have been the significant milestones of financial and social lives in Turkey.
The Missing in Political Conversations
Parallel to the political developments, the mutual financial cooperation process was also gotten its share of pleasure from political relations, which were under tension in some periods. We can say that the financial relation between Turkey and Russia are generally the results of political relations and they have been continued in parallel to the political developments between the two countries. However, this was changed after 1990. The financial relations among the two countries relations have had a serious place as well as political relations with the end of Cold War, the separation of Soviet Union and taking over of SSRU‘s heritance by Russia Federation and it has been seen and directed that sometimes political relations have been stated according to financial relations .
The level achieved in financial relations today is quiet rearward the current potential although in recent years there have been constructive developments in mutual financial relations and although Turkey and Russia have been the two significant financial powers in Eurasia region. This can be seen in a clear way when the foreign trade capacities of the two countries are put together.
The Commerce has not been at the Sufficient Level
The two countries have about 250 billion dollars trade capacity together with the World, besides the trade capacity performed between the two countries has even been reached to 5 percentage of this amount. Another important fact not to be overlooked is the financial structures of the two countries that complete each other. Today, Russia has the situation to provide the products that Turkish economy needs with lowest transportation cost of most numbers of raw and semi-finished product inputs. On the other hand, the production of most consuming goods from food to textile, demanded by Russian citizens, whose income level increases day to day, has been performed in Turkey with world competing price and quality.
The main policy of Turkey is the integration to European Union. On the other hand, the sound relations to be developed with Russia will be complementary fact other than being an alternative for European Union process. The strong links, that Turkey is going to have with several countries in which Russia will be the first, will support its financial and political situations in front of West and will add power.
Turkey has a good chance
These kind of official meetings in presidency level with neighbor countries, although they have been performed years after, are the constructive signs for several new developments. The future of Turkey is clear. We desire beneficial earnestly for our country and all neighbor countries.