Russian President Hopes to Continue Constructive Dialogue with New Turkish PM - 25 March, 2003

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulating him on the appointment.

The letter states that Russia regards "the move as further confirmation of the policy towards political and economic stabilisation of the country, backed up by the Turkish population," the Kremlin press service reports.

Prime Minister Recep Erdogan will contribute to further improvement of Russian-Turkish relations bringing them to a brand new level of multifaceted partnership meeting both Russian and Turkish long-term interests, Moscow believes.

We "count on maintaining and stepping up the constructive dialogue established during our Moscow meeting in December 2002," the letter reads.

The Russian President "is sure that the increasing confidence in the relations will contribute to further realisation of the significant Russian-Turkish co-operation potential for the sake of our countries' prosperity, strengthening of peace and stability in the common Eurasian region," the letter stresses.