Putin says Turkey, Russia agree to revive pipeline projects

Putin told a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Moscow that he proposed a three-party agreement among Turkey, Italy and Russia on pipeline projects from Russia to western Europe.

Asked about the South Stream, a proposed pipeline project routed from Russia to Bulgaria and further to Italy and Austria through Turkish waters in the Black Sea, Putin said Russia expects Turkish approval for underwater works by November 2010.

On joint nuclear power projects, Putin said Russia wanted to boost cooperation with Turkey, recalling the agreement signed between the two countries last year.

Putin also said that Russia was eager to increase cooperation areas, especially on agriculture. He said Turkish and Russian officials would also work on lifting mutual visa restrictions between the two countries.