Turkey continues to cooperate with Russia, says naval commander

Enver Alas - ISTANBUL

AA photo

Turkey’s naval commander said on April 13 that Turkey was continuing its cooperation with Russia despite problems, noting that cooperation would produce results.

Admiral Bülent Bostanoğlu said naval force would be one of the most significant elements both at present and in the future as it was in the past. 

He added that the country was continuing on cooperating with Russia.

“Despite the fact that Russian Federation gives [us] various problems, we are continuing to carry out cooperation in this sense. Cooperation will produce results. Therefore, we know that maritime security nowadays can only be guaranteed by working together,” Bostanoğlu said speaking at a symposium on maritime security in Istanbul.

Bostanoğlu also pointed that the problems in maritime jurisdiction should be solved by applying international law.

“The sea will only bring us trouble unless we resolve our differences within the law,” Bostanoğlu said while urging for the necessity of more creative solutions in maritime security.

Relations between Moscow and Ankara have been thorny since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border on Nov. 24, 2015, for violating Turkish airspace despite repeated warnings.