Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Severing ties with global strategic partners goes against Turkey’s understanding of sovereignty, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as he prepared to embark on a trip to South Africa.
“Severing ties with our strategic global partners, who are just like the U.S. to us, goes against our understanding of sovereignty. Iran is both our neighbor and our strategic partner. There are so many developments based on mutual benefit,” Erdoğan said to members of the press in Ankara before boarding the presidential plane to South Africa.
Washington has told its allies to cut imports of Iranian oil by November, a senior State Department official said. Trump in May said that his administration was withdrawing from the “defective” 2015 nuclear deal agreed by Iran and six world powers.
Erdoğan will attend the summit to be held between Wednesday and Friday. His attendance at the summit will serve as the first high-level contact between Turkey and the BRICS bloc.
The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) has stepped up its efforts in Africa in a bid to negatively impact Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the continent and participation in the BRICS summit currently being held in South Africa.Erdoğan will attend the summit to be held between Wednesday and Friday. His attendance at the summit will serve as the first high-level contact between Turkey and the BRICS bloc.On the sidelines of the summit, the Turkish president is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of all BRICS member states and other invited leaders.A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdoğan is scheduled on Thursday on the sidelines of the summit, according to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov.A smear campaignAccording to the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD)’s South Africa head Abubekir Salim, against whom the FETÖ terror organization has launched several false lawsuits, “A group of journalists were brought by FETÖ members to meet the group’s ringleader Fetullah Gülen in Pennsylvania prior to Erdoğan’s visit to South Africa in a bid to negatively impact public opinion in the country and portray FETÖ in a good light. It was also aimed at starting a smear campaign against the president and put forth false accusations.” The journalists were asked to launch smear campaigns using false evidence against Turkish businessmen and companies operating in Africa.Turkey can boost regional bloc BRICS's profile: EnvoyAll attempts will failSpeaking about recent developments, Salim said that the good atmosphere that prevailed between Turkey and South Africa following the election of President Ramaphosa is set to improve even further after the participation of President Erdoğan in the BRICS summit. “All they did to prevent this was for nothing. We will never allow it to destroy the beautifully developing and effective ties between the two countries, and all the ongoing efforts together with our president’s visit, and will continue to develop our trade ties in particular and bring relations to its peak.” FETÖ terrorists are led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated Turkey's July 15 coup attempt and is the mastermind behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary. Since the failed coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police and judiciary as well as in state institutions across the country to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETÖ.Erdoğan to meet Russia's Putin at BRICS summit in S.AfricaBRICS, Turkey meet offers opportunities: Business group
FETÖ steps up terror activities in Africa ahead of Erdoğan visit
Erdoğan said he will discuss developments in Syria with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his trip to South Africa.
"Developments in Syria, whether in Tal Rifat or Manbij, are not going as desired. The only places that are going in the desired direction are Afrin, Jarabulus and Al Bab," Erdoğan said
The president said issues in Idlib and Daraa will also be addressed during his meeting with Putin. "Anything can happen in these places at any time."
Last month, the Syrian regime -- with Russian air support -- launched a major military operation in Daraa, allowing it and its allies to establish control over most of Syria’s border with Jordan.
The European Union on Wednesday approved a new assistance package worth €400 million ($468 million) for the education of Syrian refugees in Turkey.According to a statement from the European Commission, the funding is the first action adopted following the agreement by EU member states to finance an additional €3 billion ($3.5 billion) for the Facility for Refugees in Turkey.The package will focus on outreach, increasing quality of education for students, Turkish language training for adults, the continuation and improvement of the examination system, and social cohesion activities, the commission said.108 mosques in northern Syria restored by Turkish group"With the endorsement of the second tranche of funding by EU member states, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to support Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey," Johannes Hahn, commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, said.In March 2016, EU and Turkey reached an agreement to stop irregular migration through the Aegean Sea, and improve the conditions of Syrian refugees in Turkey. The EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey was set up in 2015 to support Syrian refugees in Turkey. The EU facility has a total budget of €6 billion ($7 billion) from the EU budget and the EU members.Dozens dead in Daesh attacks on Syria's Sweida city, villagesTurkey hosts nearly 3.6 million Syrian refugees, more than any other country in the world.As of the beginning of 2018, the country has nearly spent $30 billion for the refugees it hosts, according to a report by the Turkish parliament.In 2016, Turkey was named the most generous nation as per percentage to gross national income and it came in second after the U.S. on a list of most charitable countries in the world.
EU backs €400M for Syrian refugees education in Turkey
The fighting led to a major displacement crisis, with an estimated 350,000 civilians fleeing Daraa towards areas near the border.
Erdoğan said he will attend the summit which will end on Friday in Johannesburg as the term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
His attendance at the summit will serve as the first high-level contact between Turkey and the BRICS bloc.
"The theme of the session that I will attend is 'Global South-South Cooperation'," Erdoğan said.
Erdoğan drew attention to the importance of the BRICS Summit saying: "I see the summit as an important opportunity to enhance relations between Turkey and BRICS."
Turkey's ambassador to South Africa praised brotherly relations between the two countries, ahead of BRICS summit which will be attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan."Turkey and South Africa go back a long way ," Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen said, in an exclusive interview to Anadolu Agency.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa invited Erdoğan at the summit as the term president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).BRICS is a grouping of five countries including, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.Turkey can boost regional bloc BRICS's profile: Envoy"By joining the summit our president will convey our views to other leaders and will have the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with leaders of BRICS member countries," she said.Ülgen recalled that the two countries opened embassies in their capitals in 1993 and 1994 through a mutual agreement."Our bilateral trade volume is $2.5 billion. We buy minerals from South Africa. But there is a lot of untapped business potential. More needs to be done by South Africa."Ülgen pointed out that the internal dynamics of South Africa are well known and so patience and care should be exercised when trading in the country."Turkey invested in two companies in South Africa; appliance manufacturers and distributors Defy and Capetown Iron and Steel Works Company (Cisco)."For better representation in South Africa, Turkey opened institutions such as TIKA, Yunus Emre Institute, Maarif foundation."'South Africa similar to Anatolia'Ülgen said that South Africa's relations with Turkey go way back to Ottoman era.Renowned Ottoman scholar Abu Bakr Effendi was sent to Cape of Good Hope in 1862 during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz.His traditions are still being followed by Muslims in South Africa.She said South Africa resembles Turkey's Anatolian region in many ways."South Africa is similar to Anatolia. It has fertile soil like Anatolia and its climate is very beautiful. At the same time in terms of human history, it is a geography that has witnessed great pain,” she said.Ülgen said South Africans perceive Turkey positively."South Africans take great pleasure in spending their holidays in Turkey,” she said, adding that there is also a great interest in Turkish textile and cuisine.
Turkish envoy hails strong relations with South Africa
"I believe that the African continent would change the future of our ever-changing world," he added.
The BRICS regional bloc is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, countries that share over 20 percent of the global economy and contribute around 17 percent to international trade.
On the sidelines of the summit, the president is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of all BRICS member states and other invited leaders.
In response to a question regarding Turkey's position on possible sanctions by the U.S. against Iran, Erdoğan said: "One must note that ending relations with our other strategic partners in the world conflicts with Turkey's understanding of independence..."
South Africa's envoy to Ankara has highlighted the significance of Turkey’s attendance at the BRICS summit, which would also see the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.The BRICS regional bloc is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, countries that share over 20 percent of the global economy and contribute around 17 percent to international trade.“In the event that Turkey is invited to join BRICS, it should be expected that the country will positively contribute to the aims and objectives of the formation,” Ambassador Pule I Malefane told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.Malefane drew attention to Turkey as an “emerging economy”.“Turkey is also an emerging economy with exceptional potential, therefore, it will correctly improve the profile of the formation and also stand to gain a lot from being a member.“The bloc presents a specific and systematic attempt at addressing challenges facing the world that range from country-specific problems relating to domestic poverty, inequality and unemployment to climate change and a global economic system that is biased in favor of corporate interests, particularly in finance and technology,” Malefane added.Erdogan will attend the summit to be held between Wednesday and Friday. His attendance at the summit will serve as the first high-level contact between Turkey and the BRICS bloc.On the sidelines of the summit, the Turkish president is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of all BRICS member states and other invited leaders.A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan is scheduled on Thursday on the sidelines of BRICS, according to Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov.- 'Turkey, a strategic partner'Erdogan will later pay an official visit to Zambia on Saturday and meet Zambian President Edgar Lungu to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international developments.Malefane on Erdogan’s attendance said Turkey had been invited to BRICS since the country was being seen as a “strategic partner and leader in the region”.“Turkey is being regarded as a strategic ally in strengthening south-to-south relations and Agenda 2063, which is a strategic vision of the African Union,” he said.On Turkey-South Africa relations, South African envoy said the visit is expected to “reemphasize the need to continue on the path of increasing trade between the two countries so as to guarantee a better life for the peoples of the two countries”.“Turkey remains a historic partner of South Africa dating back to the era of the Ottoman Empire and continues to play an important role in advancing South Africa’s foreign policy and South Africa’s role in the global diplomatic terrain,” he said.Turkey's trade with BRICS countries was $60.7 billion last year -- $7.3 billion in exports and $53.4 billion in imports, according to Turkey’s statistical authority, TurkStat.However, regarding the trade volume between Turkey and South Africa specifically, Malefane said: “Our bilateral trade figures are currently just below a billion U.S. dollars and this has exposed the need to dialogue and communicate more to realize the potential that is still untapped.”Recalling that South Africa was among the first countries to condemn the defeated coup on July 15, 2016, Malefane highlighted that his country will “avail itself to work with Turkey in fighting terrorism within our respective countries and beyond our borders”.FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.*Sadik Kedir Abdu from Ankara contributed to this story.
Turkey can boost regional bloc BRICS's profile: Envoy