Venezuela and Türkiye reaffirm solidarity and deepen bilateral ties

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterate their strong opposition to Israeli actions in Palestine

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reiterated their countries’ strong opposition to Israeli actions in Palestine on Thursday during a joint press conference following the Fourth Meeting of the Türkiye-Venezuela Joint Cooperation Commission.

 Fidan emphasized Türkiye’s unwavering support for Palestine and the increasing international recognition of Palestinian statehood. “The growing number of countries recognizing Palestine is gradually isolating Israel and its supporters,” he said. He noted that Türkiye, alongside its allies, has been actively applying diplomatic pressure on Israel to cease its actions in Gaza.

Fidan also highlighted Türkiye’s humanitarian efforts, which include bringing wounded Palestinians to Türkiye for treatment and providing essential supplies. “Our humanitarian aid efforts will continue uninterrupted,” he affirmed. Fidan stressed that Türkiye’s foreign policy agenda prioritizes support for Palestine, and he expressed hope for an end to the violence in Gaza.

Fidan further discussed the broadening of Türkiye-Venezuela relations, particularly in areas such as energy, agriculture, tourism, education, and health. “Our relationship with Venezuela is central to our engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean,” he said. He announced the establishment of a new directorate within the Turkish Foreign Ministry to manage relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Echoing Fidan’s sentiments, Gil condemned what he described as “genocide perpetrated by Israel against Palestine.” He reiterated Venezuela’s steadfast support for Palestinian independence and criticized the human rights violations in the region. “We demand punishment for the crimes against humanity in this region,” he stated.

Gil also highlighted the deepening ties between Venezuela and Türkiye, built on the principles of honesty and friendship between President Nicolás Maduro and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Over the past seven years, the two nations have made significant progress in bilateral cooperation, including various multilateral forums advocating for international law principles.

Gil pointed to the economic and trade agreements aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $3 billion, mentioning the recently signed Agreement on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments. He acknowledged the nine agreements signed to enhance cooperation in tourism, education, aviation, trade, petrochemicals, energy, and economy.

Regarding Venezuela’s economy, Gil noted its resilience and growth despite unilateral sanctions. He announced President Maduro’s candidacy for re-election and anticipated a positive and celebratory election process. “Venezuela is growing despite the unilateral sanctions imposed on us,” he said.

Both ministers emphasized their countries’ mutual support in international matters. Fidan remarked, “Türkiye has always stood firmly against unilateral sanctions on Venezuela and supported their stance.” Gil reciprocated, highlighting Venezuela’s consistent support for Türkiye.

The meeting concluded with the signing of several cooperation agreements, solidifying the strategic partnership between Türkiye and Venezuela. These included agreements in health, civil aviation, visual-auditory services, education, tourism, and higher education scholarships.

The joint press conference underscored the robust partnership between Türkiye and Venezuela, with both nations committed to supporting each other on the international stage and working together to enhance bilateral relations.

Source: AA