ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that visit of Foreign Minister Celso Amorim of Brazil would add a new momentum to bilateral relations.
Speaking at a joint news conference following his tete-a-tete meeting with Amorim, Gul said Amorim was the first Brazilian Foreign Minister paying an official visit to Turkey. Gul said he attributed a special importance to the visit.
Gul said Turkey was exerting efforts to improve bilateral relations with Brazil.
Noting that despite the geographical distance Turkey and Brazil were two friendly countries having social and economic similarities, Gul said, ''I believe that there is a very big potential for Turkey and Brazil to improve bilateral relations in globalizing world. We should benefit from the current potential.''
Gul said trade volume between Turkey and Brazil was in low level, stressing that Brazil, with its 180 million population and developed industry, could be one of the leading trade partners of Turkey.
Stating that they focused on improvement of economic and political cooperation, Gul said, ''we are pleased to see that we have similar views on many issues.''
Gul expressed pleasure that Amorim announced support of Brazil to Turkey's candidacy for permanent membership to U.N. Security Council for 2009-2010.
Gul said Turkey supported Brazil's candidacy for U.N. economic and social committee candidacy for 2005-2007.
Stating that they decided to form high level cooperation commission between the two countries, Gul said this commission would convene annually, and discuss all the issues comprehensively.
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim of Brazil in his part expressed his wish over improvement of bilateral relations between Turkey and Brazil, stating that the two countries may have contacts on aviation, maritime, transportation and tourism.
Amorim said he and Gul also discussed cultural cooperation and that removing visa and establishment of interparliamentary friendship commissions would be resulted soon.
Amorim said economic committee, expected to convene in September envisaging participating of businessmen from the two countries, was also important.
(AY) 20.03.2004