Russia against all coup bids, Putin tells Erdogan

By Diyar Guldogan and Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country is against "all kinds" of coup attempts during his first meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the downing of a Russian jet last November.

In remarks made to the media at the Constantine Palace in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Putin said: "We are against all kinds of coup attempts. We are against these attempts that are against the constitution.

“I hope under your management the Turkish people will overcome this problem.”

Putin also said the restoration of bilateral ties would benefit both Turkey and Russia.

Erdogan agreed with Putin and said Turkish-Russian solidarity would also help in resolving issues in region.

"I believe we will enter a different phase with the steps that we will take,” he said.

"Our region has political expectations from Turkey and Russia," he added.

The Turkish president also appreciated his Russian counterpart’s support following the July 15 foiled coup. “Your call after the coup attempt made us happy," he told Putin.

The two leaders are expected to discuss the way forward in reinforcing bilateral relations during their meeting, as well as exchanging views on regional and international developments.

After the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian jet airspace violation over the Turkey-Syria border, relations between the two countries soured until the issue seemed largely resolved on June 29 through a letter and subsequent telephone calls between the countries’ leaders.

On June 30, Russia lifted a ban on tourist flights to Turkey following a phone conversation between Putin and Erdogan.

Turkish and Russian foreign ministers later met in the Russian city of Sochi on July 1.

Putin gave his support to Turkey over the July 15 coup attempt and said he stood by the elected government, offering his condolences to the victims of what Erdogan called the “most heinous” armed coup attempt in modern Turkish history.

On July 22, Russia also lifted restrictions on flights to Turkey, which had been implemented temporarily following the coup attempt, after Turkish officials assured their Russian counterparts that additional security measures were being taken.