STORY: Erdogan says Putin may visit Türkiye in August
DATELINE: Aug. 5, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:31
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Istanbul city in Türkiye
2. various of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, Türkiye
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish President
4. various of bilateral meeting of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul, Türkiye (file)
5. various of dry cargo ships anchored in the Black Sea, coordination center representatives inspecting dry cargo ship in Türkiye (file)
6. various of dry cargo ships passing through the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Türkiye (file)
7. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish President
 
STORYLINE:
 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could visit Türkiye this month.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish President
"The date has not been set yet. My foreign minister and head of intelligence are holding talks. Within the framework of these talks, I hope that this visit will take place in August."
 
Türkiye, which has good relations with both Kiev and Moscow, is working to resurrect a deal that aims to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain from Black Sea ports and the export of Russian food and fertilizers.
 
Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022. The deal collapsed last month after Russia said its demands were not met and withdrew from the agreement.
 
Erdogan said Türkiye and Russia agreed that the grain should be transferred to the countries in need, without elaborating further.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Turkish President
"We will convert the grain through the Black Sea corridor into flour, and we will transport them as flour to poor, underdeveloped African countries."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)