11.12.2004, 13:38
Zitat:Signatures with Russia after December 17
Agreements concerning significant issues, which were reached as a consensus between Ankara and Moscow during the historical visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, will be left until after the December 17 Summit in order to avoid reactions.
Russian diplomatic sources traveling with Putin's delegation determined that agreements with Turkey depended on whether Turkey receives a date to begin negotiations from the European Union (EU) during its December 17 summit. Russia is also seeking accession, but into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both sides agreed that solutions to significant issues had to be left until after the new year.
Russian sources who evaluated Putin's visit for Zaman said yesterday that his visit was beneficial, though signatures had to be postponed until Erdogan's visit to Russia, which will be on January 15th.
The sources continued, "You stand on the verge of the European Union (EU). We are also following the WTO membership process. We should act according to those." While concluding that bilateral agreements were deliberately left for the post EU decision and not because of the insufficiency of the legal infrastructure, the sources claimed that some agreements might be signed by the lower level bureaucrats because of possible international pressures.
"Europeans perceive both of us as 'Asians'. We have the potential. Fate directs us to make cooperation." He also underlined the significance of the TUPRAS tender, which was won by Tatneft and cancelled later on. For Russia, for whom this was an incomprehensible situation, the source said : "Tatars may take TUPRAS tender and then build the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline."
The Russian source said they had invited Turkish sources to Russia. He also Russia revealed that Russia wants to build a Trans Trakya (Trans Thrace) pipeline because Turkey impedes the passage of oil tankers through the Straits. Turkey ahs also offered to build the Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline.
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