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May 5, 2017 www.intellinews.com I Page 3
in trade turnover, we need to immediately lift all these restrictions. We would like this to happen and together with Mr Putin we will be making great efforts to solve current issues and return relations to previous levels.” Turkey is seeking to “balance trade and economic cooperation with Russia” as the import and export balance is still in Russia’s favour, he added, while also calling for visa restrictions to be lifted for the efficient devel- opment of ties.
Special attention was also paid at the Sochi en- counter to Nato member Turkey’s request to ne- gotiate the acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 advanced anti-aircraft missile system, which has been under discussion since last winter and is agreed in principle, although pricing remains un- resolved. “Military and technical cooperation was
Mud flies as Czech election campaign kicks off
Andrej Babis pressuring one of their colleagues over content in the paper. Babis’ business deal- ings and ownership of major media assets has been a consistent point of attack for Sobotka’s left-leaning Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD).
The PM’s resignation will break a fractious coali- tion between the CSSD and Babis’ centre-right Ano, which sits 10 points or more ahead in the polls. Sobotka appears to be making a desper- ate gamble, betting he can throw enough mud at Babis before any election, which for the moment remains scheduled for October.
However, he is not the only player. Against expec- tations, the PM failed to officially present his res- ignation to President Milos Zeman at a meeting on May 4, and now says he plans to do so in the middle of the month instead of after the president
discussed in a positive tone,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The presidents also looked at oil and gas coopera- tion, and the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey.
It was further confirmed after the Putin-Erdogan talks that Russia is to launch a joint investment fund with Turkey with funds of up to $1bn.
Moscow, Putin also noted, stood ready to help Turkey improve anti-terrorist security measures at its tourist resorts, hugely popular with Rus- sians prior to the falling out between Russia and Turkey which saw the Russians introduce tight restrictions on charter flights to Turkish airports.
has returned from a trip to China.
The wily Zeman is thought to be thrashing out a deal with Babis over the best strategy to ensure that the billionaire can lead the next coalition with a strong hand. Ano currently has the support of around 30% of voters, according to polls, and the president needs Babis's support, or at least acquiescence, if he is to guarantee his own re-election early next year. Ze- man, a former CSSD premier, has also fought with Sobotka over control of the party for years.
The president blindsided Sobotka at the meet- ing, announcing on the PM’s arrival that he would accept the premier's resignation – which he has not yet been given – but asking the government to remain in place until he appoints a new prime min- ister. This could mean that, rather than the finance minister being removed from the government as Sobotka wants, only he himself would go. At a joint press conference that Zeman bounced Sobotka into attending before the meeting, he walked away while the premier was still speaking. Reports say Sobotka was visibly shaken by the meeting.
Playing it straight
Babis has played it straight since Sobotka’s an-