30 Dec 2018 13:15

Moscow, Ankara make decisive contribution to counter-terror fight, political settlement in Syria - Putin

MOSCOW. Dec 30 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the contribution Russia and Turkey have been making to efforts aimed at settling the conflict in Syria in his New Year message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin press service said on Sunday.

"The head of the Russian state has stressed that the joint efforts of Moscow and Ankara have been making a decisive contribution to the fight against terrorism in Syria and also to the advancing of the political settlement process in this country," it said.

Putin also said he is pleased that Russian-Turkish relations have been developing successfully.

"The construction of the first unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has been started, the TurkStream gas pipeline's underwater section has been completed, and new promising avenues of bilateral cooperation have been outlined," he said.

"Putin expressed confidence that the work to bolster mutually advantageous partnership ties in all spheres for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries and in the interest of further promoting peace, stability and security on the Eurasian continent will continue," the press service said.