President Erdoğan: We have a human-oriented approach to Africa
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the Presidential Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Complex.
President Erdoğan said: “As you know, we went on a very fruitful Africa visit last week covering three countries, during which we met with five heads of state in total. We have been welcomed with great appreciation and sincere hospitality in Angola, Togo and Nigeria, as is the case with every African country we visit. We have once again witnessed the great potential in the region during the meetings between the heads of state and between delegations as well as during the meetings of businesspeople.”
“WE HAVE A HUMAN-ORIENTED APPROACH TO AFRICA”
Drawing attention to the importance Turkey attaches to deepening its relations with Africa, President Erdoğan stated: “In this spirit, I have paid 50 visits to 30 African countries in my capacity first as Prime Minister and then as President. We have increased the number of our diplomatic missions across the continent and have worked to strengthen our trade and economic cooperation with Africa. The importance of Africa, the rising continent of the world, will grow bigger and bigger in the 21st century.”
Africa’s fertile lands still constitute the most valuable sources for the world, which has been shaken by health and climate crises, the President stated. “Colonialists’ efforts to control the continent by constantly changing methods and means never have and never will come to an end. However, past sufferings of the African peoples are still fresh in their minds. More importantly, our African friends are cognizant of the importance and the potential benefits of the assets in their possession. African societies don’t want to be exploited, oppressed or slaughtered any longer but they want to develop and flourish through fair sharing and to contribute to humanity.”
Underscoring that Turkey’s view of the continent is different from Western countries, President Erdoğan said: “Our counterparts also see that as a country with no stain of colonialism or no disgrace of massacre in its history, we have a human-oriented approach to the continent. That is why we have a different place in their eyes. However, it is not so easy to make progress in a geography where the political, social and economic order is built upon a centuries-long exploitation. Colonialists’ traces are visible across the continent in every area from politics and economy to social and cultural life. Nevertheless, Turkey’s policies—which are based on mutual respect, affection, solidarity, winning together and sharing—have started to take root, gain ground and get reciprocated.”
President Erdoğan went on to say: “The fact that our cultural and humanitarian ties with many parts of the continent date back 500 years helps us a lot. Likewise, the activities we run in the continent by means of our humanitarian aid organizations such as the TIKA, Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay), Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, Maarif Foundation and the Yunus Emre Institute have generated an exceptionally favorable climate. It is upon this foundation that we are building strong bridges of friendship and cooperation all around the continent with an understanding that sees Africa not as a market but as a partner. Such events as the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum held in Istanbul right after our Africa tour and the Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit to be held on December 17-18 are concrete examples of the progress we have made in this direction.”
“EVERY STEP TURKEY TAKES IN AFRICA ANNOYS FORMER COLONIALISTS”
Highlighting the high number of mutual visits between Turkey and Africa, President Erdoğan stated: “We will hopefully be taking steps to further expand this favorable climate with a new Africa initiative in a short while. It is promising in terms of the future of our bilateral relations that the Africans visiting our country for various purposes such as education, healthcare and trade are growing in numbers every passing year. We also see that Turkish business people’s investments in Africa continuously grow bigger and bigger. Indeed, a total of 18 economic and cultural agreements or memoranda of understanding have been signed and joint declarations released during our latest visit.”
President Erdoğan continued as follows: “Every step Turkey takes in Africa annoys former colonialists, who see the continent as their backyard. This is one of the underlying causes of the campaigns run against our country in the West. Take no offence, but we will continue to build a shared future with our African friends and thus will continue to cause annoyance to colonialists. We will continue to carry out very auspicious and beneficial works for our country in the continent even though those blinded by animosity towards us try to trivialize the distance covered in the Turkey-Africa relations.”
“TURKISH JUDICIARY DOESN’T TAKE ORDERS FROM ANYONE”
Touching upon the statement made by the ambassadors of some countries about an ongoing legal case in Turkey, President Erdoğan said: “This statement targets not any single person or subject; it directly targets our country’s judiciary and sovereign rights. This stance is a grave insult levelled, first and foremost, at our judiciary, judges, prosecutors and lawyers; targeting all the members of our judiciary. As stipulated in Article 138 of our constitution, the Turkish judiciary doesn’t take orders from or become subservient to anyone. We cannot tolerate a group of ambassadors questioning our judiciary, in which even our own legislative and executive organs cannot interfere as per the constitution.”
President Erdoğan further stressed: “No one can convince us that the aim of those, who keep harping on Turkey while countless tragedies, oppressions and injustices are being inflicted across the world, is to seek justice. It was my duty, before anyone else, as the head of state to give the necessary response to this disrespect towards our independent and impartial judiciary and its members. The stance I, as the President, displayed regarding the ambassadors that made the known statement is a manifestation of our responsible and sincere attitude. Our intention is never to create a crisis but to protect our country’s rights, dignity, interests and sovereign rights. Indeed, this slander against our judiciary and country has been renounced with a new statement made today by the very same embassies. We believe that these ambassadors, who have expressed their commitment to Article 41 of the Vienna Convention—that is adherence to the laws and regulations of the countries and noninterference in the domestic affairs—would be more careful in their statements about Turkey’s sovereign rights. Let me add that anyone who doesn’t respect our country’s independence or our nation’s sensitivities cannot be accommodated in this country, no matter what their title is.”
