ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Thursday that Turkey attached special importance to restore peace and stability in Africa.
Babacan met ministers and delegations from African countries, who are currently in Istanbul to attend Turkey-Africa Foreign Trade Bridge meeting, at Polat Renaissance Hotel.
Babacan said that Turkish government declared 2005 as "African Year". He added that since 2005, Turkey initiated very important openings with Africa, and increased its activities in many areas. He said that African Year was not limited to 2005 only.
Babacan said that Turkish International Development & Cooperation Agency (TIKA) opened three offices in Addis Ababa, Khartoum and Dakar. He added that TIKA offices extended technical support to development of projects in the countries they were established. Babacan said that they reserved 15 million USD to support projects in African countries.
Babacan said that Turkey also provided higher education scholarship for many African countries.
Babacan said that Turkey was a candidate for UN Security Council membership for 2009-2010 period, and asked support of African countries during the elections which would be held in October, 2008.
He said that Istanbul would host "Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit" between August 18th and 21st --with participation of heads of state & government of African countries-- to assess relations with African countries as well as to make plans for future.
(GC-AÖ)