Russian PM Putin due in Turkey today

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Turkey today to discuss regional and international problems such as the economy and energy, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Burak Ozuergin yesterday. Speaking at a weekly press conference, Ozuergin added that several cooperation agreements are expected to be signed in areas such as energy, agriculture, education and culture, customs, and space research. He also said that they were also working on other agreements on nuclear issues and cultural exchange programs to be signed during the visit. On the Nabucco project for transporting Caspian natural gas to Europe via Turkey, Ozuergin said that Turkey sees it as the project of the 21st century, and that it will connect the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia to Europe. "Through Nabucco, Turkey will become a indispensable part of the European Union," he added. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is also expected to visit Turkey and attend signing ceremonies during Putin's visit.