A delegation from Russia headed by President Vladimir Putin visited Turkey on Nov. 19, when a ceremony marking the completion of  TurkStream gas pipeline’s offshore section took place. The event was mostly symbolic, as the pipeline can be used no earlier than the end of 2019. Nevertheless, both sides marked the importance of the work done.

President Putin said that the event testifies to the effectiveness of both countries’ partner-like cooperation in accomplishing the most difficult and ambitious projects.

"Today, barely two years after the start of this large-scale venture, we have completed its most difficult part. It was really a very serious and challenging job to build the deep-water part of the new gas pipeline," said Putin.

He added that "extracting and transporting gas is not as easy a job as some may think. It is not simply drilling a hole in the ground and then pumping. This is difficult work involving high technology, both for extraction and transport. Let me remind you that this is the most environment-friendly and the most popular type of primary energy in the world today," Putin stressed.