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Following the talks, the heads of state gave a joint news conference.

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Beginning of meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, colleagues,

Let me wish you a warm welcome to Russia.

I thank you for accepting our invitation to come today to Sochi.

Our relations are developing just as we planned. It is excellent that we have this opportunity to have this working meeting and discuss the key bilateral issues and go over the main problems on the international agenda, including such serious matters as the Syrian crisis.

The very fact that we are meeting in this fashion today shows that our bilateral relations have taken on a special nature and that we are restoring in full the special status our ties had.

Welcome, Mr President.

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (retranslated): Mr President,

I too greatly welcome this opportunity to fly from one side of the Black Sea to the other and come as a guest to my good friend. I am very happy to have this chance.

Today, we have an excellent opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations and examine regional issues.

We are traversing a period when our countries bear great responsibilities and carry a heavy burden. I am sure that the steps we take together can change the entire region’s destiny.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you once again for the invitation.

Vladimir Putin: I want to congratulate you on the results of the referendum.

It is our view that the domestic political situation will gradually return to normal, and this will create new opportunities for further developing our bilateral relations. Many of the steps we are planning have a conceptual nature and require our parliaments’ support.

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