21 Apr 2020 17:57

Putin, Erdogan discuss coronavirus, Idlib, joint nuclear power projects - Kremlin

MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have had a phone conversation, the Russian presidential press service said on Tuesday.

"The parties focused on a host of issues related to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. They expressed readiness to step up joint efforts to fight the infection, including via the health ministries and other relevant institutions, as well as to continue close coordination to ensure the repatriation of Russian and Turkish citizens to their homelands," the press service said in a statement.

The Russian and Turkish presidents "thoroughly exchanged opinions on the situation in Syria, including the progress of fulfilling the agreements on the Idlib de-escalation area, above all, the Additional Protocol to the Sochi Memorandum, dated September 17, 2018, which was endorsed in Moscow on March 5 of this year," the statement said.

"The parties reaffirmed the necessity of unconditional observance of the principles of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. At the same time, they stressed the importance of further close cooperation between Russia and Turkey via military and diplomatic channels," the statement said.

During the phone conversation, the two heads of state "addressed topical issues of Russian-Turkish cooperation, primarily in the trade and economic areas, including the implementation of joint nuclear power projects, and the enhancement of cooperation in the agricultural and transport industries," the statement said.

The parties agreed to continue regular contacts at various levels, it said.