KIEV
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev.
Erdogan signed a joint declaration following a meeting of Turkey-Ukraine High Level Strategic Council which he co-chaired with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and later attended a joint press conference with the Ukrainian leader in Kiev.
Speaking at the joint press conference, Erdogan underlined that they favored integration with Ukraine in economic and all other possible fields as much as possible.
"The progress we can make in this direction will make contributions to our plans of offering a better future to our peoples," Erdogan stressed.
Also speaking at the press conference, President Yanukovych said that a second meeting of the Turkey-Ukraine High Level Strategic Council took place on Thursday.
"The high level representation at the meeting was an indication of the importance attached to the development of the relations between Turkey and Ukraine," Yanukovych stated.
"No doubt, a joint step taken which was welcomed with happiness was facilitating easier visas. I am confident that developing opportunities for mutual visits and increasing numbers of business trips will contribute to our bilateral tourism and would bring our peoples closer to each other," Yanukovych stressed.
We want to develop cooperation with Turkey in diverse fields, including carrying energy sources, defense industry, space and science, Yanukovych noted.
Turkish-Ukrainian trade volume stands at 6.5 billion USD. The two countries aim to have a trade volume of 20 billion USD by 2015.
-Integration of Crimean Tatars with Ukrainian society crucial for us,
Erdogan has also said that it was crucial for them to see Crimean Tatars respect Ukrainian laws, live in tranquility and safety by preserving their language, culture and beliefs and integrate with the rest of the Ukrainian society.
Erdogan reiterates conditions for normalization of Israeli ties
On the toher hand Erdogan reiterated his country's conditions to mend ties with Israel.
"The answer we have given to those who called us to talk about the Israeli issue has been the same: Firstly, we demand an official apology. Secondly, redress for the relatives of the victims. And thirdly, we demand an end to the blockade on Gaza. Without compliance to any of these three conditions normalization [of relations] is not possible," Erdogan told reporters in a joint press meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovyc in Kiev, Ukraine.
Erdogan's remarks came as response to a question over reported mediation efforts to set relations right between Turkey and Israel which came to a historic low after a deadly Israeli attack on Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May 2010 in international waters that killed nine Turkish nationals and wounded many others.
"If there is anyone who would guarantee that all of our conditions will be attained, then they are welcomed to mediate. Otherwise, no need to bother," Erdogan said.
Following a report of an international panel investigating the raid on Mavi Marmara, the lead Turkish vessel of the Gaza flotilla, Turkey reduced its diplomatic relations with Israel to second secretary level, expelling all other Israeli diplomats in Turkey.
The Turkish government also cancelled military agreements and planned military exercises.
