Turkish PM stresses ties with Brazil on unprecedented visit

Speaking to a business conference in Sao Paulo, Erdoğan stressed that the two countries — temporary members of the U.N. Security Council — had the courage to tackle the issue that was "making the international community very uncomfortable."

He did not dwell on the subsequent dismissal in the Security Council of the May 17 agreement he and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva negotiated with Iran by major powers the United States and Russia. But he said that and partnerships in other areas "show we work well together."

He said Brazilian and Turkish businessmen should "take advantage of this relationship to explore opportunities," and talked up what he said was a strong investment environment in his country. Erdoğan's visit to Brazil was the first by a Turkish prime minister.

It kicked off a Latin American tour that was to include a meeting Thursday with Lula in Brasilia, attendance at a U.N. conference promoting cross-cultural understanding in Rio on Friday, and trips to Argentina and Chile.

Erdoğan said Turkish-Brazilian trade amounted to $1.5 billion, a figure he acknowledged was relatively paltry and should be "multiplied."

A trade agreement between Turkey and the South American trade bloc Mercosur being negotiated "will have an important role in the relations between the two countries," he predicted.

Miguel Jorge, Brazil's trade minister also speaking at the business conference in the Sao Paulo State Federation of Industry, hailed the deepening relationship with Turkey and the economic health of their emerging economies compared to the United States and Europe.

"Brazil and Turkey are living a strategic moment," he said.


/Hurriyet Daily News/