ISTANBUL, Nov 30 : Shrugging off disputes that could have wrecked other relationships, the strongmen leaders of Russia and Turkey are pursuing a tight alliance at a time of chilly relations with the West.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday in Ankara for talks expected to include foreign policy, more energy cooperation and steps towards a bilateral trade goal of $100 billion a year.
There would be every reason for Russia and Turkey -- the successor states of empires that fought a dozen wars over the last five centuries -- to have testy relations given gaping differences on the key international crises in Syria and Ukraine.     ?AFP