Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Turkish leader participated virtually in a ceremony conducted at the nation’s new Akkuyu nuclear power facility.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, has made his first public appearance since this week’s health rumors surfaced. Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he participated in a fuel delivery ceremony at the nation’s Akkuyu nuclear power station. Both males showed up via a video link.
Due to a health issue, Erdogan had to end a live interview on Tuesday. The president has canceled his hectic agenda in preparation for the May 14 presidential election. The president’s health was the subject of numerous rumors when the news broke, with some media outlets alleging he had a heart attack.
Fahrettin Altun, Erdogan’s director of communications, dismissed the speculation on Thursday, stating that the Turkish president was “on duty with great strength, health, and vigor.” Erdogan’s health rumors were also denounced by him as “baseless distortions.” The president had the stomach flu, but according to Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, he was “in good health” and his symptoms had subsided.
Erdogan and Putin both watched the fuel delivery to Turkey’s first nuclear power plant from a distance on Thursday. Prior to the event, the two leaders also spoke on the phone and discussed a variety of “regional issues,” according to the Turkish president’s office, including the crisis in Ukraine, the grain deal between Moscow and Kiev mediated by the UN and Ankara, as well as recent developments in Syria.
According to Ankara, Erdogan praised Putin for his support of the Akkuyu nuclear project while the Russian president sent Erdogan his best wishes.
Putin praised Türkiye for opening the Akkuyu plant at the occasion and claimed that Russian experts had provided it with the “most cutting-edge and secure equipment in the world.” Additionally, he declared that Russia would construct a gas trading hub in Turkey, which would be used to sell gas to other nations.
In addition, Ankara is getting ready to receive a consignment of building supplies from Moscow as part of relief efforts following a significant earthquake that occurred in February.
Erdogan declared that by 2028, all four of the nuclear reactors at the Akkuyu facility would be operational. Putin and Russia were also honored for participating in what he dubbed the two countries’ largest bilateral investment endeavor to date.
According to Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Doenmez, the Akkuyu power plant has been given the designation of a nuclear facility following the delivery of the first nuclear fuel supplies. Under a 2010 deal between Moscow and Ankara, the station was constructed by the Russian state nuclear enterprise Rosatom. The facility will be able to produce 4,800 megawatts of energy once it is fully operational.
