Vladimir Putin (L) and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (R).
In South Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday are set to have their second face-to-face meeting this year.
Erdoğan and Putin will have a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the annual summit of BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- hosted in Johannesburg.
The main topic of the meeting will be Syria. The leaders are also expected to exchange views on the upcoming Tehran summit as part of the Astana process on Syria.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday arrived in Johannesburg to attend the BRICS summit.Erdoğan, who arrived at 9.55 p.m. local time (1955 GMT), was welcomed by South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies and Turkey's Ambassador to South Africa Elif Comoglu Ulgen at the OR Tambo International Airport.The BRICS regional bloc is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, countries that share over 20 percent of the global economy and contribute around 17 percent to international trade.Turkish president to visit Zambia on July 28The Turkish president is accompanied by his wife Emine Erdoğan, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Treasury anf Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, and two lawmakers from Justice and Development (AK) Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).The 10th summit started on Wednesday and will end on Friday.Erdoğan’s attendance at the summit will serve as the first high-level contact between Turkey and the BRICS bloc.Turkish envoy hails strong relations with South AfricaOn the sidelines of the summit, Erdoğan will also hold bilateral talks with the leaders of all BRICS member states and other invited leaders.He will also meet Turkish community in South Africa, as well as prominent businesspeople and opinion leaders of Muslim community.Turkish president will also open the new building of Turkish Embassy.
Erdoğan arrives in Johannesburg to attend BRICS summit
Speaking at a news conference in Turkey on Wednesday before flying to Johannesburg, Erdoğan said: "Developments in Syria, whether in Tal Rifaat or Manbij, are not going as desired.
“The only places that are going the desired way are Afrin, Jarabulus, and Al-Bab."
Erdoğan added that issues in Idlib and Daraa will also be addressed during his meeting with Putin. "Anything can happen in these places, at any time."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be visiting the Republic of Zambia on Saturday on the invitation of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.According to a statement from Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Erdoğan will arrive in Zambia on July 28.The upcoming visit is expected to further strengthen the existing relations and cooperation between Zambia and Turkey in numerous sectors.Turkish envoy hails strong relations with South Africa“Turkey has one of the largest and fastest growing economies which has made major strides in its socio-economic development agenda."Turkey is also a leading member of the EU Customs Union and the G-20. In addition, Turkey has continued to contribute significantly to various United Nations programs as well as several international and regional organizations," the statement read.The visit will mark the first Turkish presidential visit to Zambia.Erdoğan: Iran is both our neighbour and strategic partnerErdoğan and his Zambian counterpart Lungu will discuss mutual and multilateral matters such as Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Reform of the UN Security Council.The ministry has also stated the two leaders will discuss peace and security in the region particularly and the Continent in general."Turkey has an active role in promoting regional stability through its membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Zambia’s membership to the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and also the country’s impending assumption of the Chair to the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defense and Security in August 2018," it said.
Turkish president to visit Zambia on July 28
The leaders’ first face-to-face meeting this year was in early April in Ankara, where they took part in the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant's groundbreaking ceremony via video conferencing.
They also attended a tripartite summit on Syria with Turkey and Iran.
This year Erdoğan and Putin have also spoken on the phone 16 times to discuss regional issues, particularly Syria, as well as bilateral relations.