PRETORIA - ''Turkey is always ready for peaceful steps about nuclear energy. We never take part in an activity that would threaten peace,'' said Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan held a joint news conference with Deputy President Jacob Zuma of Republic of South Africa in Pretoria on Thursday.
Prior to their meeting, agreements on economic and commercial cooperation and on customs were signed between two countries.
Zuma said, ''we have discussed relations between our two countries as well as global issues.''
Erdogan said, ''Africa is an important continent for Turkey in the aspect of foreign policy. Turkey declared 2005 as African Year.''
''We have discussed how we can further develop political, economic and commercial relations both in bilateral meetings and in meetings between delegations,'' added Erdogan.
''Regarding developments about Cyprus, we discussed relations between northern and southern Cyprus. We have expressed that we support peace on the basis of United Nations,'' noted Erdogan.
Erdogan said, ''we can pursue joint activities in economic issues. Foreign trade volume in economic and commercial relations between our two countries is 1.2 billion U.S. dollars. This is not in favor of Turkey. We should increase total trade volume.'' Erdogan also invited Zuma to Turkey.
When asked whether Republic of South Africa will take a concrete step about Cyprus issue in United Nations and international area, Zuma said, ''Erdogan briefed me about Cyprus issue. He explained what Turkey and Turkish Cypriots fulfilled about this issue. We have received information from Greece about this issue as well. They are also in favor of peace and solution.''
''We all know the results of referenda (in Cyprus). We know embargoes and isolations (over northern Cyprus) continue. We support a permanent solution within the scope of United Nations. We will try to provide every type of support to all solution proposals within the scope of United Nations,'' noted Zuma.