| SELAHATTİN ALPAR | Ambassador / Director General for Bilateral Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
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Turkey’s Relations With The Latin American Countries; 2006 Latin American Year |
Political Relations
Turkey’s relations with the Latin American countries go back to the mid 19th century, when then the Ottoman citizens, most of whom emigrated from today’s Middle East and settled down in the region. They are still referred to as “Los Turcos” in Latin American countries. It worths mentioning that The Ottoman Empire signed agreements on consular relations with Argentina and Chile in 1910 and 1913 respectively. The modern Republic of Turkey concluded friendship agreements with Brazil in 1927 and with Uruguay in 1929 marking the first interests of the Republic of Turkey in the region.
Our relations with the countries in the region have been pursued with a view to achieve an acceptable balance between reciprocal interests since then. Turkey has paid presidential visits to Argentina, Brazil and Chile in 1995 and, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. İsmail CEM to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Cuba in 1998-1999. Turkey and her counterparts in the region have decided to expand mutually beneficial cooperation schemes in many important fields.
Latin America Action Plan
The first action plan for Latin America was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, in order to foster closer relations with the Latin American states, following a series of meetings and discussions with the representatives of the relevant public authorities and private sector. During the preparatory phase of this plan, special emphasis has been placed on enhancing political dialogue as well as developing economic and trade relations with the countries in the region.
The action plan, which has been implemented in close collaboration with the relevant public authorities and organizations representing private sector since 1998, has regularly been revised and updated in accordance with the changes in circumstances as well as achievements in this regard.
Since the beginning of the implementation of this plan, we have concluded several bilateral agreements with the countries of the region with the aim of strengthening the legal framework of our relations in all fields and managed to enhance political, economic, and cultural as well as defense cooperation with these countries. Our economic and trade relations displayed a remarkable increase during this period, reaching US $ 2,5 billion in 2005. Nevertheless, we deem this amount insufficient and encourage our businessmen to explore new opportunities.
Since 2003, several arrangements have also been concluded regarding the formation of reciprocal friendship groups in the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the parliaments of the countries in the region. Members of our respective parliaments have been contacting each other and organizing reciprocal visits to further relations between our parliaments.
Turkey has obtained permanent observer status at the Organization of American States (OAS) as well as the Association of Caribbean States, two outstanding political and economic bodies in the region and signed framework cooperation agreements with these organizations. Representatives of our country have been participating in the annual general assemblies of these organizations and following closely the activities of their relevant committees, especially in the area of disaster relief operations, fight against terrorism etc. thus, keeping her close interests with the activities taking place in the region as well as displaying her readiness to share Turkey’s experiences with the countries concerned.
Political Consultations and High Level Visits
We regard political consultations as an important mechanism, which enable our respective countries to exchange views and explain the reasoning behind our views and policies on several issues that are of mutual concern. In these consultations we are also aiming at coordinating our national positions vis-à-vis emerging international issues according to our national interests and take stock of our bilateral relations.
In 2005, we have conducted political consultations with Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. Taking this opportunity, we also explored new possibilities for fostering economic and trade relations and cooperation in the area of tourism by making contacts with public authorities, private sector organizations, chambers of commerce and industry as well as business circles in these countries.
In the political field, there has been an increase in high level political contacts between the leaders and the ministers of Turkey and many of these countries. President of Chile, H.E. Ricardo LAGOS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, H.E. Celso Nunes AMORIM, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina H.E. Rafael BIELSA visited Turkey in the last two years, besides several other ministers and high level officials.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey H.E. Abdullah GÜL accompanied by a large delegation comprising MPs, senior officials from number of ministries and government institutions, as well as representatives of several private sector organizations, businessmen and journalists visited Brazil between 18-22 January 2006.
In addition to political contacts made by Minister GÜL with Brazilian authorities, senior officials of Turkish Ministries met with their Brazilian counterparts and discussed the pending agreements so as to conclude them rapidly in the near future. Representatives of private sector organizations and businessmen explored business opportunities with Brazilian business circle. The inauguration of the Turkish-Brazilian Business Council and the Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Sao Paolo were also done during this visit.
Foreign Minister Abdullah GÜL and his counterpart Celso AMORIM have signed two Memoranda of Understanding, the first one the establishment of a high level consultation mechanism between the two ministries and the second relating to cooperation between the Diplomatic Academies of the Ministries of Foreign affairs of both countries.
Economic Relations
Although our trade volume with the countries in the region is around US $ 2,5 billion in 2005, the remarkable increase in the recent years shows that this amount can be expanded to mutually beneficial levels by further exploring the existing potential between the two countries. There is also room for significant quantity of trade through third countries, which does not appear in the official statistics reports of the countries.
As a provision of the Customs Union Agreement with the EU, Turkey has to adopt the common custom duties which the EU implements to the “third countries”. Therefore, Turkey needs to conclude Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Mexico and Chile since they have already signed FTAs with the EU. We expect that the negotiations with Chile in this regard will start soon this year and urge the Mexican authorities to do so.
The Joint Economic Commission (KEK) mechanism, which has already been established with Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Chile, Peru and Cuba can be considered as a useful tool in furthering relations in the fields of economy and trade.
In addition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other public institutions, several private establishments such as the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Council of Foreign Economic Relations (DEİK), the Society of Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TÜSİAD), the Caribbean and Latin American Trade Association (KLATD), Turkish Tour Operator’s Associations (TÜRSAB) have been making substantial contributions in order to enhance our relations with Latin American countries not only in the field of economy and trade, but also in the cultural and tourism sector as well.
Another crucial step taken towards enhancing trade with the countries of the region has been the inauguration of the Turkish-Brazilian Business Council during the visit of Minister GÜL to Brazil. In line with Turkey’s political determination to develop our relations with the region we are encouraging DEİK in order to establish similar business councils with other Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Argentine and Chile in the near future. No need to say that Turkey expects similar determined actions from official and private institutions of the Latin American countries to take similar steps.
Air Transportation and Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is expected to finalize necessary procedures and start direct flights from Istanbul to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires towards the end of 2006. Once these direct flights are initiated, not only trade but the relations between the region and Turkey in the fields of culture and tourism will also increase. The improvement of air and sea transportation means will undoubtedly facilitate contacts among business circles.
Cultural Relations
Last but not least, cultural relations constitute the most important pillar of our relations. Besides their constructive impact on political and economic relations, cultural exchanges enable our people to get to know each other better.
Turkey’s promotion will be pursued in the Latin American countries through various activities. Turkish Film Weeks, art exhibitions reflecting Turkey’s cultural heritage as well as the participation of Turkish artists in several cultural activities organized in Latin American countries are some activities to name.
A Latin America Festival, together with an economic forum has also been organized by the Caribbean and Latin American Trade Association (KLATD), in the course of last two years in collaboration with Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassies of the six Latin American countries in Ankara, Honorary Consuls of 24 Latin American countries in Turkey as well as several non governmental economic and cultural institutions in order to avail more beneficial cultural and business exchanges with Turkey.
2006 Latin American Year and Conclusion
The new action plan which will be implemented in 2006 and beyond by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998 will enable Turkey and her Latin American partners to continue remarkable achievements in the period in front of us. The Ministry of foreign Affairs is also convinced that political consultations should be conducted regularly. Similarly economic relations should be increased in terms of both trade volume, contacts established among business circles, establishment of business councils, meetings among prominent businessmen of both sides thus identifying ways and means to increase mutually beneficial trade relations. Conducting cultural relations on reciprocally beneficial levels shall constitute yet another aim to be fulfilled through the new action plan.
The Year of Latin America, initiated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdullah GÜL prior to his visit to Brazil, will provide a good opportunity for furthering and diversifying our relations with Latin American countries in the years to come. The new action plan shall constitute the broad framework of the activities to be conducted in political, economic, trade, cultural relations between Turkey and the Latin American countries as well as serve as a checklist to finalize our legal framework yet to be completed. This action plan will also serve as a broad program for scheduling high level mutual visits.