Erdoğan departs for Algeria, the first of three stops on Africa tour
On Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan departed for Algeria, the first stop of his three-nation African tour.
“We are determined to enhance ties with African countries,” Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul before his departure. The president is expected to hold a joint news conference with his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune following their bilateral meeting in the capital Algiers. He will also attend a Turkey-Algeria Business Forum.
“I and Mr. Tebboune were together at the Berlin conference [on Libya]. We also held bilateral meetings there,” Erdoğan said. “We will also have the opportunity to discuss our bilateral relations in detail in meetings with the president and other officials.”
According to a statement by the Turkish Presidency, a “Turkey-Algeria High-Level Cooperation Council will be established through a joint statement set to be signed by the two presidents over the course of the visit.”
“We will also discuss current developments in our region, especially in Libya,” Erdoğan said.
Commenting on reports of violations of the truce struck in Libya, Erdoğan said: “It is not possible to expect mercy and understanding from someone like [Haftar] on the cease-fire”.
On Jan. 12, the parties in Libya announced a cease-fire in response to a joint call by the leaders of Turkey and Russia. But talks for a permanent cease-fire ended without an agreement after putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar left Moscow without signing the deal. Meanwhile, in Berlin last Sunday, Haftar accepted terms to designate members to a U.N.-proposed military commission made up of 10 members – five selected from each side – to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire.
Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the other in Tripoli, which enjoys U.N. and international recognition.
Historic visit to Gambia
Pointing out trade volume between Turkey and African countries, Erdoğan said: “[The trade volume] has reached $26 billion, a 381% increase in the last 17 years as a result of our efforts.”
Erdoğan’s visit to Gambia will be of historic importance as “it will be the first-ever official presidential visit to this country,” the statement added.
Gambia will count as the 28th country in Africa that Erdoğan has visited over the course of his terms as prime minister and president. The Turkish president’s last stop in Africa will be Senegal.
“Various agreements aimed at strengthening the contractual bases of the bilateral relations with these countries are likely to be signed during the visits. Business forums are also planned to be held in Algeria and Senegal,” the statement said.
Turkey’s first lady Emine Erdoğan is accompanying Erdogan alongside key aides – including Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank, Energy Minister Fatih Dönmez, head of the Turkish Intelligence Organization Hakan Fidan, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun and presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın.
Turkey-Africa relations have gained substantial momentum since the declaration of Turkey as a strategic partner of the continent by the African Union in January 2008.
Source: Daily Sabah
