Russia, Turkey pledge need for more efforts to 'fight terrorism'

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) being accompanied by Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov (L) as he arrives in Istanbul. [İslam Yakut/Anadolu Agency]

Russian and Turkish foreign ministers have underlined the need to put more effort into effectively fighting terrorism, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday after a phone call between the two ministers overnight.

The statement was issued hours after the Russian ambassador to Turkey was shot in the back and killed as he gave a speech at an Ankara art gallery on Monday.

Sergei Lavrov and Mevlut Cavusgolu also underlined the need to exclude the possibility of provocations aimed at undermining bilateral relations, as well their cooperation in fighting militants in Syria and Iraq.

Cavusgolu will visit Moscow later on Tuesday to meet his Russian and Iranian counterparts to discuss the crisis in Syria.

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