President Erdoğan: We want to advance our cooperation with Togo in the political, economic, commercial and military areas
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a joint press conference with President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo following their talks.
Voicing his pleasure to be in Togo, the second leg of his Africa tour, President Erdoğan said: “I am happy to pay the first Presidential visit from Turkey to the friendly country of Togo. We hosted my dear friend Gnassingbé in Ankara on the occasion of my inauguration in 2014. Recent high-level reciprocal visits have led to a significant momentum in our relations.”
Pointing out that numerous agreements were signed during his visit, President Erdoğan said: “During our bilateral and interdelegational talks today, Mr. President and I discussed how we could further our relations. With regard to numerous matters, we actually share similar views and approaches with Togo. We want to advance our cooperation with Togo in the political, economic, commercial and military areas.”
“TOGO’S SUPPORT TO OUR FIGHT AGAINST FETO IS PRAISEWORTHY”
Noting that he exchanged views with President Gnassingbé regarding regional matters, President Erdoğan said: “Turkey follows with admiration the active foreign policy, which Togo conducts for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in its region and across Africa. We inaugurated our embassy in Lomé on April 1, 2021. Inshallah, Togo will open its embassy in Ankara by year’s end.”
Praising Togo’s support to Turkey’s fight against the FETO terrorist organization, President Erdoğan said: “With the directives he gave personally, Mr. President supported our country with regard to the closing down of the FETO school in Togo and opening of a school by our Maarif Foundation. I thank him for our determined stance regarding our fight against the FETO. Two schools of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation have gone into service in Lomé. With the high-quality education it offers, the Türkiye Maarif Foundation will significantly contribute to Togo’s educational system and to raising Togolese students.”
“WE DETERMINEDLY MAINTAIN OUR COOPERATION ON DEVELOPMENT”
Underscoring that bilateral economic relations, though still below the desired level, was improving, President Erdoğan said: “In 2020, we reached $148-million trade volume. Within the framework of your 2018-2022 National Development Plan, the Turkish companies stand ready to make exemplary investments in Togo in such sectors as tourism, agriculture, energy and construction. We determinedly maintain our cooperation on development. Numerous projects have been carried out in Togo by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency since 2012 in the areas of healthcare and education. Similarly, 89 students have benefited from the Türkiye Scholarships so far. We hope this number continues to rise.”
“We will also continue our solidarity in the fight against coronavirus. We as Turkey and the Turkic Council will donate vaccines to Togo, Burkina Faso and Liberia in the period ahead. With the contributions of Azerbaijan, which is a member of the Turkic Council, and Hungary, which is an observer state within the council, we will deliver the vaccines to you. I thank my dear friend, Mr. President and the Togolese people for the hospitality they extended to me and my delegation,” President Erdoğan said.
