President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a joint press conference after a three-hour meeting in Sochi's Presidency residence.

President Erdoğan, said that they have captured the desired momentum in political relations with Russia, pointed out that both countries showed a strong will at the point of moving far ahead of the relations and pointed out that this was the big prudent approach of both leaders against various tests.

Erdoğan said that the regional problems, especially the crisis in Syria, are being discussed. “I have a Russian proverb that I love very much: everyone talks about their pain.”

“For our country, Syria is a bleeding wound for 6 years. It is common suffering for us that Syrian children die every day while children in other parts of the world are playing joyfully in the streets and enjoying the green beauty of spring. We are one country with Syria with 911 kilometers border cut from them same fabric. How can we stay indifferent to the rising child screams just happen next to us? How can we close our eyes to the murder of children, women, old people, chemical and conventional weapons?”

“No one should get away with such brutal assault”

Erdoğan reminded of the chemical attack on Khan Sheykhun, which expresses that an opportunity window has been opened for the success of ceasefire, said, "Some circles spend all of their energy sabotaging the process. We know very well what they are doing to provoke the field, to destroy the seeds of greening hope. The most obvious example of this is the chemical attack on Khan Sheykhun. No one should get away with such brutal attack. Putin and I agreed for punishing those responsible for these attacks.”

Erdoğan noted that along the southern border of Turkiye, they will not allow an enemy formation of a threat to the national unity, territorial integrity and security. Erdoğan noted that they will continue to take every precaution to protect the safety of citizens’ life.

Responding to the questions of the press members, Erdoğan replied to the question of when the commercial agreements between the two countries will come to the former agenda and related to limit the export of agricultural products to Russia, especially tomatoes, as follows:

“The food in all matters other than tomatoes, in garment our friends agreed in textiles. We desire Turkish tomatoes in the Russian market. It is advisable in that it is both cheaper and delicious. But at the moment there is a transition period. As Mr. President also expressed we will search to find formulas on this regard. Our friends have done a good job. We go beyond the normalization period and a new process is starting.”

Russian President Putin stated that they agreed with President Erdoğan about the creation of safe areas in Syria and said, “The parties of the confrontation in Astana need to make a decision. Because they will give the final decision for their country. We will do as much as we can to make mechanisms work.” (ILKHA)