Elena Teslova
27 May 2023•Update: 27 May 2023
MOSCOW
Last year the volume of trade between Türkiye and Russian topped $62 billion, said a senior Russian senior diplomat on Saturday.
Speaking to Russian news agency RIA, Yury Pilipson, director of the 4th European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Russian-Turkish cooperation has developed "especially dynamically" in recent years.
"This is the result of joint efforts of the governments, relevant departments, and economic entities of the two countries. It is important that the potential of our partnership remains significant to achieve new horizons," he stressed.
He added that the West, displeased with the successes of the effective Russian-Turkish cooperation, "chooses in favor of destroying what others have built."
"Apparently, such a destructive (Western) line in relation to Russian-Turkish relations will continue. However, I am sure that together with Turkish colleagues we will be able to resist the subversive attempts of hostile forces," he said.
Pilipson described as "significant" the place of energy in Russian-Turkish cooperation, with two gas pipelines – BlueStream and TurkStream – working successfully and a gas hub aimed at creating infrastructure for further development of commercial contacts in the energy sector.
The official declined to comment on Sunday’s Turkish presidential runoff, saying Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, adding: “The Turkish people will decide the fate of their country by themselves."
The diplomat expressed certainty that the construction of Russian-built Akkuyu nuclear power plant in southern Türkiye will be completed in time, "in line with all required standards of quality, physical safety" despite attempts to hinder the process.
Asked if Turkish authorities might not choose Russian firm Rosatom to build a second nuclear power plant in Türkiye’s Black Sea region due to Western sanctions on Moscow, Pilipson said Akkuyu shows that two countries may implement great projects together despite external pressure.
