EGEMEN BAGIS REPRESENTS TURKEY AT MERCOSUR

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis payed an official visit to Brazil and attended the 40th ministerial meeting of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in Foz de Iguacu, and signed agreements.

Prior to the summit, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and Bagis signed an agreement on the prevention of double taxation between Turkey and Brazil, which would increase trade between the two countries.

In the summit, a memorandum of understanding was signed on the establishment of a political dialogue and cooperation mechanism between Turkey and MERCOSUR member states.

The memorandum includes cooperation in the fields of human rights, disarmament, illegal migration, human trafficking, organized crimes and fight against terrorism, and it stipulates that the ministers or senior officials convene once in two years.

Bagis indicated that after the Russian Federation, Turkey was the second country to establish such a mechanism with MERCOSUR and added "This dialogue establishes an important basis in terms of carrying out regular consultations about the developments in our regions. I believe it would have valuable contributions to the promotion of international peace and security."

Egemen Bagis also met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. After the meeting, Bagis expressed Turkey's support to Silva's contributions to world peace, and said that Turkey expected the continuation of his efforts.

Kaynak: AA