Putin thanks Kazakh counterpart for helping settle conflict with Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday thanked his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev for his mediation in restoring relations with Turkey.

At a meeting with Nazarbayev in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Putin called the efforts of the Kazakh leader a "success" in helping with the restoration of relations between Moscow and Ankara, which soured after the downing of a Russian military aircraft by the Turkish side in November 2015.

Earlier this month, Putin met Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in St. Petersburg after the latter apologized for the death of the Russian pilot in the downing incident.

The meeting, as well as Moscow's decision to lift a number of economic sanctions imposed on Ankara after the incident, signalled the desire of both parties to restore their traditionally friendly relations.

Putin said Moscow was sincerely committed to the restoration of full-scale relations with Turkey, and Erdogan's visit to Russia confirmed the mutual intention not only to restore but also develop them.

Nazarbayev said he was glad to help restore relations between Turkey and Russia, as they have an influence on Kazakhstan.

(APD)