ANKARA. Dec 6 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia and Turkey have similar positions on the fight against terrorism, President Vladimir Putin said after Monday negotiations with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
"We are grateful to the people of Turkey and the Turkish administration for their moral and political support for Russia's fight against international terrorism," Putin said.
"Russia knows that Turkey has been the target of terrorist attacks many times," Putin said.
Russia and Turkey also have close positions on topical international issues, among them the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan, the South Caucasus and the Middle East, he said.
Putin said the Russian-Turkish declaration that he and Sezer signed "not only confirms a better quality of interaction between Russia and Turkey, but also outlines cooperation priorities for the future."
The declaration reflects both nations' desire to develop political, economic, cultural and other kinds of relations, Putin said.