Ankara, Turkey, Dec 4, SPA -- Russian President Vladimir Putin wasin Turkey Monday on a rare visit meant to boost trade andcounter terrorism cooperation between the two countries. Putin arrived late Sunday on the first-ever official bilateral visit by a Russian leader. "We are here to take courageous decisions," Putin saidat a dinner with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Sunday."The visit will give the opportunity for both economic andtrade relations between Russia and Turkey to open up to newhorizons." Putin was to hold official meetings Monday with Sezer andPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as attend abusiness forum intended to increase trade betweenresource-rich Russia and Turkey, a key route for deliveringoil and gas to Western markets. Before his talks on Monday, Putin visited Mustafa KemalAtaturk's Mausoleum, a national shrine honoring the fatherof the modern Turkish Republic. The two-day visit is expected to produce six cooperationagreements on issues including defense, finance and energyin addition to a largely symbolic friendship andpartnership declaration. At Sunday's dinner, Sezer said Turkey is determined tocooperate with Russia in the fight against terrorism.Security was tight, with a number of streets closed totraffic and some 3,000 police officers assigned to protectPutin, authorities said.--SPA1156 Local Time 0856 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/222653