Published February 20,2025

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday that a comprehensive peace process should be initiated immediately with the participation of both sides in the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to information obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sources, Fidan spoke at the 27th MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, Australia) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

At the two-day event, which kicked off on Thursday, Fidan emphasized that the situations in Gaza and Lebanon, the latest developments in Syria, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the escalating humanitarian crises worldwide highlight the urgent need to enhance multilateral cooperation.

He conveyed Türkiye’s firm commitment to Ukraine’s “territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

Türkiye continues to stress the importance of diplomacy in ending the war, stating, “A comprehensive peace process must be initiated without delay, with the participation of both parties,” the minister emphasized.

He also underlined that Türkiye is fully prepared to support negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting and sustainable peace between the parties.

GAZA SITUATION

Pointing out that the ceasefire in Gaza has “provided temporary relief and allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid,” Fidan said, “However, Israel’s ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid access hinder efforts to fully alleviate the crisis.”

He emphasized the hope for progress toward the second phase of the ceasefire and ultimately taking concrete steps toward a two-state solution, saying, “Together, we have the capacity to respond to the humanitarian needs in Syria, Gaza, and beyond.”

Addressing the strengthening of cooperation within MIKTA, Fidan noted that the commitment to deepening bilateral relations with other MIKTA members within the framework of partnership remains “steadfast.”

Published February 20,2025

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Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday met with his Irish counterpart Simon Harris on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Fidan and Harris evaluated bilateral issues as well as relations between Türkiye and the EU.

The ministers also exchanged views on the situation in war-torn Gaza and efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They also discussed the issue of European security amid developments in the Ukraine-Russia war.

Published February 20,2025

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Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares on Thursday discussed the situation in Gaza and issues related to the Russia-Ukraine war.

The meeting came on the sidelines of G20 foreign ministers’ meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The two ministers also discussed the proposals put forward to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

Fidan also underlined that attempts to displace Palestinians from their ancestral lands are “unacceptable.”

Published February 20,2025

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Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and his Qatari counterpart Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari on Thursday met in Istanbul for the Türkiye-Qatar Joint Economic Commission meeting.

During the meeting’s opening remarks, Şimşek highlighted the strong political ties between Türkiye and Qatar, expressing gratitude for Qatar’s support following the February 2023 earthquake in southeastern Türkiye.

“The aim of this high-level dialogue is to strengthen the deep-rooted relations between Türkiye and Qatar, as we agreed to work together towards increasing mutual investments, expanding cooperation areas, boosting export financing and financing for large projects and green growth, exploring further trade opportunities, expanding cooperation in housing and real estate investments, facilitating aviation operations, and sharing our experience on economic reforms,” Şimşek said.

“We’re also looking forward to cooperating more closely and expanding our partnerships to third-party countries.

“Thanks to our Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 54 countries, Türkiye has access to a $30 trillion market, including the EU, which gives it a resilience against trade protectionism, and we also believe regional integration is the best hedge against vulnerability while there is fragmentation in global trade,” he added.

Al Kuwari noted that last year’s discussions in Ankara were productive and reaffirmed the ongoing economic partnership between Türkiye and Qatar.

“Over the years, we enhanced our dynamic economic relations with investments and joint ventures,” he mentioned.

“Our energy cooperation has seen significant growth and contributed to the economies of the two countries, particularly through liquefied natural gas (LNG) deals, namely the 2015 LNG deal, which was a crucial step in reinforcing our long-term commitments.

“Our countries are committed to exploring new areas for cooperation, as the Türkiye-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) FTA, while under negotiation, is an important step towards boosting trade and investment flows, as the agreement is expected to open new markets, reduce trade barriers, and bring a more favorable environment for businesses in the two countries and the region at large,” he added.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance mutual cooperation.