Erdo?an visits Moscow amid high Syria tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at a time when Moscow is boosting its support for the Syrian government, much to the chagrin of Ankara.

However, Syria is not the sole issue on the leaders? agenda, with a pipeline project being another hot matter. 

Putin was joined by Erdo?an, as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at the ceremonial opening of the Russian capital?s new main mosque on Sept. 23.

An estimated 2 million Muslims now live in Moscow, which has seen an influx of people from the North Caucasus republics of southern Russia, Azerbaijan and the former Soviet states in Central Asia.

The new mosque - built on the site of a smaller, more than 100-year-old mosque destroyed in 2011 - can accommodate 10,000 worshippers, but it is still one of only six mosques in the city.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu expressed concern over Russia?s increasing military build-up in neighboring Syria, calling it ?very dangerous,? and noting the issue will be on the agenda for Erdo?an in Moscow.

Davuto?lu said Russia?s support for Syria had now become more visible. 

?They have taken [it] into the field. This is very dangerous. Therefore, we watch with deep concern,? the prime minister said in a televised interview late Sept. 21.

Russia, a strong backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has increased its military build-up in the country as the embattled leader faces setbacks on the battlefield at the hands of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants and other jihadist factions.

Russia has deployed 28 combat planes in Syria, Agence France-Presse has said, quoting U.S. officials.

According to the...