Turkish FM signs agreement with Costa Rican counterpart

ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and his Costa Rican counterpart Enrique Castillo have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between diplomacy academies of foreign ministry of both countries.
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara on Tuesday, Davutoglu stated that they discussed the bilateral relations of Turkey and Costa Rica, improvements and developments regarding agreements on the political, cultural, commercial and educational relations between both countries. 
A press conference was held after both foreign ministers' signing of the diplomacy academy's cooperation agreement. Davutoglu and Castillo signed the memorandum of understanding.
Davutoglu stated that they discussed the road map on improvement of both countries' bilateral relations. He added that they assessed the steps which will be taken for development and stressed that they decided to start political consultations. Davutoglu said, "In this framework, today, between our two ministries, we signed an agreement in order to develop the cooperation of our diplomacy academies. Also, in the scope of improving foreign relations, we decided that we will revise our legal infrastructures."
Davutoglu noted that they will start working on investment incentives and start holding negotiations for a free trade agreement. Davutoglu added that Costa Rica had special importance for Turkey as the country had a strategic position in Central America and they were a democratic and stabilized country.
The Turkish foreign minister expressed that in the framework of Latin America expansion, Turkey had launched three embassies in Latin America in the past two years and these were in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Davutoglu said that they were planning to open embassies in Panama and Dominican Republic in the near future and added that during two counterparts' talks, Davutoglu mentioned to Castillo that they would like to launch an embassy in Costa Rica as well.
Davutoglu underlined the approximate USD90 million trade volume of Turkey and Costa Rica and said, "There is a high potential for raising this figure. Once all the cooperation agreements are completed, in the next three to five years of time, the trade volume can reach up to USD500 million."
The Turkish foreign minister stressed that during their talks with his Costa Rican counterpart they touched also on academic topics. He added that they especially discussed cooperation and exchanges between universities and cultural activities.
Davutoglu added that they discussed the reformation period of United Nations, as UN needs to be more active in the international areas, he said that they have common opinions about the subject.

No sense to contact Syrian regime who slaughters its own people

Referring to the statement of Russian counterpart and getting in touch with Syrian regime, Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu said, "No sense to contact such a regime who slaughters its own people." 

Turkish Minister Davutoglu came together with his Costa Rican counterpart Enrique Castillo in the scope of discussing bilateral relations of both countries in Ankara on Tuesday.
At the press conference, Davutoglu replied the questions of reporters and upon a question of, "Is Turkey planning to contact Assad's regime?" which referred to the statement of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov which was that regional countries should contact not just the opponents but also Assad's regime, Davutoglu said, "Firstly, we were upset because of the continued attacks on Syrian people despite the ceasefire throughout the Muslim feast. We really wished that during the Muslim feast, our Syrian brothers would relieve for a bit unfortunately attacks continued despite the ceasefire. U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi continues his negotiations and we are in touch with him as well. After he completes his talks in Russia, we will come together with him."
He stated that in the framework of Geneva Convention, they support the negotiations to take start for forming of the transitional government and said, "However it has no sense to contact such a regime who slaughters its own people during religious feast."
For obtaining a transitional process, he added that all sides should act in a common sense after the stop of bloodshed and listening to Syrian people's justified requests. "Unfortunately, UN was not successful over giving effective messages to Syrian regime," said Davutoglu and added that as UN was not able to being effective, air and ground attacks continued.
Replying to another question about Syria and the meeting of Friends of Syria, Davutoglu said, "The meeting will take place in Morocco next month or in the beginning of December. Preparation works before the meeting continue, and in the week of November 8, there will be talks taking place for the reformation of Syrian opposition. Other discussions and meetings in the scope of economic and other support for Syria will be placed. We are waiting for the completion of these preparation meetings." He underlined that including Costa Rica, more than 100 countries are the members of Friends of Syria Group too.
Upon a question of one of the cameramen about the latest developments about Turkish journalist Cuneyt Unal and Palestinian journalist Bashar Fehmi Qadumi who are being held by Syrian officials, Davutoglu said, "From the first moment we have heard that Cuneyt was taken into custody, we started working for his release." He stated that as Republic of Turkey, they tried all the ways for journalists' release and they will continue for doing their utmost.

Turkey is an important player internationally

Foreign Minister of Costa Rica Enrique Castillo has said that internationally and in the multilateral diplomacy field, Turkey is an important player.

The Costa Rican foreign minister came together with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu at the Residence of Foreign Affairs Ministry in Ankara on Tuesday.
After the meeting of two foreign ministers, Castillo spoke at a press conference and stated that they exchanged views with Davutoglu in the areas of bilateral relations which he found productive.
Enrique Castillo gave his best wishes to the Turkish government and Turkish people for the 89th anniversary of the founding of the modern Republic of Turkey. He added that they detailed that what needs to be done in order to develop bilateral relations of Turkey and Costa Rica.
Castillo stressed that they decided on the road map for improving the diplomatic and commercial relations of both countries and they will keep holding talks for their works next year.
He added that they also assessed the educational and cultural cooperation. He highlighted that Costa Rica would like to deepen their cooperation works of education and culture with Turkey and said, "Turkey is an important player internationally and in the field of multilateral diplomacy. Turkey is a growing and developing country and as Costa Rica, we feel pleased to be a partner of Turkey."
He expressed that the purpose of signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between diplomacy academies of foreign ministry of both countries was that it will help Turkey and Costa Rica get informed about each other's political and cultural status.
Moreover, he stated that both countries can also hold works for UN's reformation process and making UN more active.
Castillo replied to a question of a journalist about the UN and their works regarding the Syria issue, he said that UN and UNSC were not that effective over what is happening in Syria and added that in order to make UN be more active, it needs reformation which can be seen.
He stressed that as Costa Rica, they joined Friends of Syria group and others to find alternative resolutions to the current crisis in Syria.