Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu
Turkey calls for forming a clearing house within Developing Countries (D-8) to conduct trade in local currencies, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said Saturday.
"We are experiencing a period of trade wars. The best response against this would be using our local currencies in trade. Turkey is preparing to do trade in local currencies with countries such as China, Russia, Iran and Ukraine. We also continue such negotiations with other countries.
"It is possible to realize this within D-8. Therefore, we propose to form a clearing house within D-8," Çavuşoğlu said at the opening speech of the 18th Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of D-8 in southern Antalya province.
On June 15, 1997, the D-8 was launched after Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan proposed the creation of an economic group consisting of eight emerging economies from the Muslim world.
The foreign ministers of the Organization of Developing Countries (D-8) will convene in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya on Saturday, Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will host the 18th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the D-8."During the meeting, the decisions taken at the Istanbul Summit in 2017 will be followed up and the ways of further strengthening cooperation among member states and more effective functioning of the D-8 will be reviewed," the ministry said in a statement.On June 15, 1997, the D-8 was launched after Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan proposed the creation of an economic group consisting of eight emerging economies from the Muslim world.Alongside Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan created an organization based in Istanbul.Turkish deputy foreign minister in US for talksTurkey's benchmark stock index up at open
Turkey to host D-8 foreign ministers meeting in Antalya
Alongside Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan created an organization based in Istanbul.
Çavuşoğlu said the countries need to work more to renew and revive, adding: "We can increase our strength and potential with new members."
Lifting sanctions against US officials
Upon being asked about lifting sanctions against U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen, Çavuşoğlu said the decision was taken in accordance with the principle of reciprocity.
The United States on Friday removed two top Turkish officials from the Global Magnitsky Act sanctions list, according to the Treasury Department website.The United States had imposed sanctions on the officials, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, in August over Turkey's imprisonment of American pastor Andrew Brunson.Brunson was released in October and has since returned to the United States.The Turkish Foreign Ministry said it had lifted sanctions imposed against U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Attorney General Jeff Sessions within the framework of reciprocity.The ministry said in a statement released minutes after the U.S. move that the sanctions on Nielsen and Sessions, which include a travel ban into the country and freezing of assets in Turkey, had been lifted in response to the U.S. move.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump had discussed improving frosty relations between Washington and Ankara during a call between the two leaders, the Turkish presidency said on Thursday.Turkey's Erdoğan, Trump talk bilateral, regional issues
Turkey, US lift tit-for-tat sanctions
Çavuşoğlu reminded reporters that Turkey imposed sanctions on Sessions and Nielsen when the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul on Aug. 1
"The U.S. wanted to reverse this decision. They asked us whether we were ready to lift sanctions mutually... 'We will lift it when you do so,' we replied."
He said the sanctions were lifted mutually on Friday.
The U.S. had imposed sanctions on the ministers amid a row about Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who was detained in Turkey on terrorism charges. He was released last month.