ST.PETERSBURG. June 5 (Interfax-AVN) -- Chief-of-Staff of Turkish Armed Forces Hussein Kivrikoglu, who is making an official visit to Russia, arrived in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Leningrad military district headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency.
The Turkish military official is supposed to meet with the district's chief-of-staff and first deputy commander Colonel General Pavel Labutin.
On Thursday morning Kivrikoglu will fly to Kaliningrad where he is planning to meet with Baltic Fleet Commander Admiral Vladimir Valuyev at a naval base in the town of Baltiysk.
While staying in Russia, Kivrikoglu has met with Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Anatoly Kvashnin. The officials discussed the current state and prospects of military and military-technical cooperation, interaction in combating international terrorism, situation in Chechnya and activities of various organizations and funds which collect money for subsequent delivery to Chechnya in order to provide financial support to rebels.
Kivrikoglu arrived in Moscow on Monday. He is returning a visit to Russia. Kvashnin visited Turkey in January, which was the first of a Russian military official of such rank to Turkey since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
During his visit Kvashnin discussed with the Turkish military command bilateral military and technical cooperation, Russia's relations with NATO, combating international terrorism as well as European security and strategic stability.
An agreement on cooperation between Russian and Turkish Defense Ministries was signed by Kvashnin and Kivrikoglu in January. The document provided a legal basis for the development of military cooperation between the two countries.
The trip provided for Kvashnin to visit some military installations in Ankara, such as the Akyndji air force base, armor college and armor academy.