ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that both important visit of South African Executive Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and the talks that were carried out revealed that both sides had necessary political will to further improve relations between Turkey and South African Republic.
Erdogan and Zuma held a joint news conference after tete-a-tete meetings and talks between the delegations of the two countries.
Erdogan and Zuma signed agreements envisaging cooperation between the two countries in education, art, culture, science, techniques, sports and youth.
Speaking at the joint news conference, Erdogan said this was the first high ranking official visit from South Africa since Turkey set up diplomatic relations with this country in 1994. Erdogan said he had very beneficial meetings with Zuma.
Stating that Jacob Zuma was also received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Erdogan said consultations were made between the foreign ministries of the two countries during the visit.
Erdogan said cooperation agreements signed between the two countries were important steps for formation of legal basis to further strengthen relations between Turkey and South Africa.
Erdogan said, ''we also discussed regional and international issues concerning the two countries,'' noting that Iraq and Cyprus were also taken up.
Erdogan said, ''South African Republic takes place among the most developed and stable countries of the African continent with its political structure, economic power, and richness of its natural resources.''
Erdogan said level in economic relations were low, stating that they reached a consensus of opinion to improve economic relations.
Erdogan expressed pleasure over the official visit of Zuma to Turkey, and stated that this visit would add momentum to improvement of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.
Zuma said that their meetings were productive and successful and stated that he believed that this visit would further improve bilateral relations politically and economically.
Stating that the cooperation between the two countries would contribute to peace efforts, Zuma said that thus, the world would become a place where any threat was not felt.
Zuma said that countries should live safely and stated that he had chance to learn Turkey's views on regional issues in his meetings. Zuma added that especially Turkey's view on the Middle East was very important.
Stating that the contribution which was made to the Middle East was also made to Africa, Zuma said that they expected the support which was extended to Africa to continue.
(EÖ-AY) 14.10.2003