MOSCOW. April 27 (Interfax) - Russia is ready to further provide Turkey, hit by an earthquake in February, with necessary aid and assistance and will soon supply Ankara with a large batch of Russian construction materials, President Vladimir Putin said.
"I cannot but reiterate that we wholeheartedly sympathize with Turkey, which was hit by a massive earthquake in February, leading to numerous deaths and devastation. We also talked about it now, by telephone," Putin said during a joint videoconference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan from a ceremony of fuel delivery to the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant on Thursday.
"We are aware of the complex problems the Turkish government, the president of Turkey are to tackle to restore infrastructure, houses, social facilities. We are ready to further provide our Turkish partners with necessary aid and assistance," Putin said.
Russia has decided to "supply Turkey with a large batch of Russian construction materials in the near future. Of course, the construction industry in Turkey is very well developed, and so is the building-materials production sector. But the situation is different today," Putin said, noting that Russia was among the first to send rescue teams and doctors to Turkey and set up a multispecialty hospital in one of its affected provinces.
The hospital has now treated more than 13,000 people, he said. "And this is our help, I can reassure you, absolutely sincere and selfless. We are always ready to give our Turkish partners a hand of friendly support," Putin said.