ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised Mali on Tuesday for supporting Turkey against a "parallel state" organization that also operates in Mali.
"Mali has said it will not provide an opportunity to those who are against the Turkish government and Turkish state," said Erdogan in a joint press conference held with his Malian counterpart, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, at the presidential palace in Ankara.
Erdogan said Mali was one of the countries where this parallel state organization nested.
He also said efforts would continue to boost cooperation on education and trade between the two nations.
The parallel state refers to an alleged organization, run by the U.S. based preacher Fethullah Gulen's movement, that is accused of infiltrating key institutions, including police, judiciary and bureaucracy inside Turkey.
The remarks came a day after the government agreed to transform Gulen-run schools abroad into civil foundations that operate on donations and partial financial support from the state.
Turkish and Malian authorities inked several agreements on security and defense industry, employment, vocational training and bilateral cultural cooperation ahead of the press conference.
Erdogan said Turkey wanted to boost ties with Mali and all African countries through principles of "equal partnership" and "win-win," seeking to increase trade volume between the two countries to $500 million by 2023.
Erdogan also reiterated his call on the world to fight against terrorism, saying that terrorism is not a local issue and urging international institutions to take action against acts that result in the deaths of people.
Malian president Keita, for his part, expressed his resolution to revive cooperation with Turkey and said Turkey represents a hope for African nations that are on their way to development.
"We are seeing a Turkey that is proceeding to modernity with honor and pride," said Keita, adding that "'Modern Turkey' owes you (Erdogan) for forming a state that is generous and extends hands to other nations."
