President Klaus Iohannis has received on Wednesday his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on an official visit to Romania, at the Cotroceni Palace.
The reception ceremony took place at Cotroceni Palace, where, after singing anthems of the two countries, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave honour to the Guard and Protocol Regiment.
The two heads of state held tete-a-tete talks and in the presence of official delegations participating members.
Strengthening the NATO’s collective defence is Romania’s and Turkey’s share common goal, President Iohannis said, adding that “Turkey’s participation in NATO Command and Control structures to be set up in Romania would be of particular importance for our country.”
Official dinner cancelled
The official dinner at the Cotroceni Palace in honour of President of Turkey, scheduled for Wednesday evening, was cancelled, after the decision taken by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an tu cut short his visit to Romania after the recent events in Turkey.
In a joint press conference with Romanian President, the Turkish President said that the prosecutor died after being taken hostage in a court of Istanbul is a “hero”, noting that he hopes to visit his family on Wednesday evening and that the fight against terrorism must continue in a determined manner. “Our fight against terrorism must continue in a determined manner,” he said.
Energy issues top the bilateral agenda
The Romania-Turkey power cable was one of the topics discussed on Wednesday by Presidents Iohannis and Erdogan. The Romanian president said that currently a new feasibility study for this project is undergoing. In turn, the Turkish President confirmed they have discussed about the transfer of electricity from Romania and Bulgaria, digi24.ro informs.
“We approached during our tete-a-tete discussion this issue. At the moment the situation is: there was a feasibility study that had been conducted several years ago. It was concluded that its data are not all relevant and another feasibility study was ordered by the competent authorities, study which reveals better what it can be achieved,” said President Klaus Iohannis.
The Romanian President added that this project is in the first phase of study and that he has announced his Turkish counterpart it may take a little while before the conclusions are drawn.
In turn, Recep Erdogan said: “We discussed the transfer of electricity from Romania and Bulgaria. Our ministers of energy continue the talks. Our principle is both parties should win and eventually we will make the step of choosing the best offer.
The Turkish President was to meet also Prime Minister Victor Ponta and the speakers of the two Chambers of Parliament, Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Valeriu Zgonea.
The last visit of Erdogan in Romania dates back on October 2007, when he was prime minister.
Visas prevent the development of tourism relations
President Erdogan said that visas for Turkish citizens currently hinder the development of tourism relations with Romania, believing that if they are removed, certainly the number of Turkish tourists visiting Romania will increase.
“425,000 Romanian tourists visited Turkey last year. If visas are waived I am sure that the number of Turks who visit Romania will increase. Visas hinder the development of tourist relations and, unfortunately, the Turks cannot come in Romania,” said Erdogan.
He showed that the volume of trade between Romania and Turkey shows a normal development, stating that it currently stands at USD 6.3 billion, the aim being to reach USD 10 billion.
“Turkish investors are in Romania for 20 years already and, if we look, they made investments worth USD 10 billion, we believe that they are insufficient. Also, Romanian businessmen are investing in Turkey and we would like our countries to get together on third markets and, thus, to become stronger,” said the President of Turkey.
Erdogan said that there are companies who want to make new investments in Romania.
According to President Klaus Iohannis, economic and trade cooperation is an asset in relations between Romania and Turkey.
“Turkey is the largest trade partner outside the European Union, and our fifth global partner. We have to capitalize this together through creative and effective solutions, the potential of this partnership,” said President Iohannis.
Iohannis also said that Romania will take over in H2 the chairmanship of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation, the priority directions being the organisation’s development of economic profile and the development of closer cooperation in areas such as environment, infrastructure and internal affairs.
PM Ponta, Turkish President Erdogan attend signing of bilateral agreements
Prime Minister Victor Ponta met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday; their meeting at the Government’s Victoria Palace lasted more than one hour, instead of the 15 minutes scheduled.
Several bilateral documents were signed in the presence of the two officials, after the meeting.
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and Turkish Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroglu signed intergovernmental agreements on the bilateral cooperation for waters, forestry, meteorology and hydrology.
Romanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Tourism Mihai Tudose and Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci signed a declaration on the setup of a Turkey-Romania Joint Economic and Commercial Committee.