Rustam Minnikhanov: “Russia-Turkey Public Forum is a new format of interaction”

On November 20 Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met with Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Konstantin Kosachev and Chairman of the Commission on foreign affairs of Grand National Assembly of Turkey Volkan Bozkir.

Welcoming the guests, Rustam Minnikhanov said that Russia-Turkey Public Forum will open today in Kazan (Korston hotel), and thanked for choosing Kazan to hold the event. Russia-Turkey Public Forum is a new format of interaction, he added. Rustam Minnikhanov believes that the event will give impetus to development of relations between Russia and Turkey, Tatarstan and Turkish partners.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that there is a high volume of trade turnover between Tatarstan and Turkey, and the biggest projects at Special Economic Zone “Alabuga” are implemented by Turkish companies. We traditionally have good relations in business, culture, history, education spheres, the President added.

Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Konstantin Kosachev noted that Russia-Turkey Public Forum was established in accordance with results of the first session of High-Level Russian-Turkish Cooperation Council and the order of Russian President and Turkish Prime Minister.

Konstantin Kosachev continued that Russia-Turkey Public Forum is dedicated to many issues, education, culture, history, formation of public opinion of Russian and Turkish citizens about countries. One of the main purposes of the event is creation of a platform for leaders of civil society of both countries.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that Tatarstan may become an example of a Russian region where people of different nationalities and religions have lived together peacefully for centuries.