Putin, Erdogan to launch Turkey's nuclear reactor

ANKARA, Apr 03 (AP): The leaders of Russia and Turkey are scheduled to launch the start of the construction of Turkey's first nuclear power plant as ties between the countries deepen.

Russia's Vladimir Putin, on his first foreign visit since re-election on March 18, arrives in Ankara on Tuesday for talks with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two will remotely launch the construction of the Russian-made Akkuyu nuclear plant on the Mediterranean coast.

Turkey and Russia have put aside their traditional rivalries and differences on regional issues to forge closer ties. Putin and Erdogan have met several times in the past year and regularly speak on the phone.

On Wednesday, they will join Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to discuss Syria. The three countries are sponsoring a series of peace efforts to end the conflict.