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Putin to Visit Istanbul Amid Increasing Differences Over Syria, Libya

Dorian Jones

   ISTANBUL - Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Istanbul
   Wednesday, where he will meet his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip
   Erdogan. Bilateral relations have dramatically improved much to
   Ankara's western allies' concern, but escalating regional differences
   threaten to sour those bilateral ties.

   Putin is officially going to Istanbul to inaugurate a key new gas
   pipeline between Russia and Turkey.

   The Turk Stream pipeline will supply Istanbul with Russian gas.

   "This ceremony tomorrow will mark a new beginning of Russian gas supply
   increasing to Turkey and European markets," says Mehmet Ogutcu, head of
   the London Energy Club.

   Turkey, as a market and transit country for Russian energy, is widely
   seen as the bedrock of deepening bilateral ties.

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