Turkey against embargoes on Cuba

ANKARA

Turkey is against embargoes on Cuba and favors dialogue to resolve problems between countries, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusolgu said on Thursday.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla in Ankara, Cavusoglu said Turkey had always been against sanctions imposed on the Caribbean state.

“Problems cannot be solved by embargo but dialogue and discussion. We don’t support embargoes against Cuba... we are against embargoes in principle,” he said.

He added that Turkey had welcomed the recent thaw in U.S.-Cuba ties.

“We have supported the reconciliation process. I hope that this process would bring more positive steps and there would be no backward steps,” the foreign minister said.

Cavusoglu also mentioned Ankara’s support for peace and stability in the Latin America and the Caribbean.

He said Ankara had been providing financial support and experts to Colombia.

"Apart from solving the problem in Colombia, Turkey continues to contribute towards resolving the dispute in Belize-Guatemala."

He said Ankara will open an office of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in Cuba on Rodriguez’s request.

Cavusoglu added Cuba has huge potential to attract Turkish investment. Turkish Aviation Authority (TAV) has applied to operate the Havana airport as some Turkish businessmen plan to build hotels there and invest in the tourism sector, he said.

*Reporting by Nazli Yuzbasioglu and Sultan Cogalan; Writing by Sorwar Alam