MOSCOW, October 12. /TASS/. Turkey remains Russia’s partner despite contradictions on the international scene, Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov said on Monday.
"Turkey is our good neighbor and partner and we have close ties between our leaders and authorities," Ivanov said. "Sometimes we have certain contradictions in international relations but we discuss them publicly and privately and publicly with account for mutual interests."
The Saturday terrorist attacks in Ankara testify to the necessity to pool Russia’s and Turkey’s efforts in countering terrorism, Ivanov said at the Turkish embassy in Moscow, where he arrived to express condolences over numerous deaths in these attacks.
He said he was confident the aim of the terrorist attacks was to destabilize the situation in Turkey and "sow fear and uncertainty, which happened in Russia earlier." "Regrettably, Russia knows only too well what terrorism is," he said, adding he was sure the Turkish authorities would be able to repel the terrorist threat.
Two bombs went off on October 10 near Ankara’s central railway station, where hundreds of activists of trade union and public organization were holding a rally to support peace and condemn terrorism in the country. The authorities said the bombs were stuffed with metal shrapnel and had been activated by suicide bombers.
The Saturday terrorist attack was the bloodiest one in Turkey’s history, having claimed 97 lives. About 160 people were hospitalized, of whom 60 in critical condition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer his condolences. Later on, he said in an interview the terrorist attacks in Turkey were a provocation. "What happened in Turkey is certainly, a daring terrorist attack, a crime with numerous victims and of course, an attempt to destabilize the situation in the country friendly to us. Moreover, it took place during the electoral campaign," Putin said. "Actually, it is a clear provocation."