(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Government of Turkey has moved to strengthen relations with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and to deepen the level of mutual understanding in keeping with its policy to open its doors to Latin America and the Caribbean.
To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a consultation and cooperation mechanism between that country and CARICOM was signed on Wednesday, 21 September during the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, who signed on behalf of CARICOM, pointed out that good relations had existed between Turkey and CARICOM prior to this MOU. In fact he recalled that in 2006, Turkey had initiated a process towards establishing the cooperation mechanism. The Community had also expressed their willingness in 2010 to deepen relations with Turkey in the areas of disaster management, climate change, trade, education, culture and tourism. This signing of the MOU, he said, was the climax of that process. Turkey’s Foreign Minister HE Ahmet Davutoglu who signed on behalf of his Government told the Media that the MOU aimed, among other things, to strengthen consultations on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The MOU also seeks cooperation in the promotion of trade, investment and tourism as well as in the areas of natural disasters, commerce, scientific, technological and personnel exchange.
Since 1998, Turkey has had permanent observer country status in the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Last year, they established a consultation mechanism with MERCOSUR, which includes four Latin American countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
AT LAST. ITS ABOUT TIME.
I TIRED EAT CHICKEN
WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE HOW DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH TURKEY WILL AFFECT THE INDIVIDUAL STATES.
THE FACT THAT TURKEY SEEM TO BE A NATION WITH DISCRETION WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS NEW VENTURE.
THANKS AND ALL THE BEST