Latest news with #AntalyaDiplomaticForum
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Türkiye's influence in Africa rises
Somalia and Türkiye last week signed a new agreement for onshore oil and gas exploration, which Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said, 'marks a new step that will strengthen our strategic cooperation with Somalia.''We will begin with seismic studies and move rapidly to detection and production,' Bayraktar said in Ankara. The deal grants the state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corporation rights to conduct seismic surveys and drilling operations across three blocks covering about 16,000 square kilometres in Somalia. Oil exploitation was not initially Türkiye's declared intention when it first arrived in Mogadishu 14 years ago as the effects of drought bit the residents hard. Since then, Ankara has built the largest diplomatic mission in Africa on Somali soil, set up a military base and now runs the main airport and the seaport in Mogadishu. Read: Somali delegation in Ethiopia to cement Ankara dealThere are Turkish prints on the Somali education, where hundreds of scholarships are dished out to Somalis to study in Turkish learning institutions, and the main security brigades in the federal government have also been trained by Turkish institutions. On oil, officials have said it proves that true partnerships don't always start with business, but with humanity. Somali Petroleum and Mineral Resources minister Dahir Shire Mohamed labelled the accord a 'historic day' for Somalia's bilateral energy cooperation.'This agreement opens a new chapter for Somalia's natural wealth,' Mohamed said, further indicating that effective exploration could strengthen ties with Türkiye, labelling as a key ally. Further details about the locations of the inland blocks were not disclosed. But the announcement came on the same week Türkiye hosted its annual Antalya Diplomatic Forum, bringing together world leaders to discuss 'Reclaiming diplomacy in a fragmented world.'Since 2002, Türkiye has increased its diplomatic presence in Africa, raising its embassies from 12 to 44 in 2022. In 2008, it became an observer state of the African Union, using that to elevate its business and political ties with the continent. It now runs a forum called the Africa Partnership Policy with Africa. At the Antalya Forum, various African leaders attended, including Sudan's military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who met with Turkish Recep Erdoğan. Previously, Türkiye had tried to mediate in the conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, in vain. "When we talk about peacebuilding, we must acknowledge the importance of local ownership and coordination,' said Omar Alieu Touray, president of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States.'Peace is not just about intervention; it's about collaboration with the region itself,' he said at the Antalya. Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, argued Türkiye's role should complement stronger African institutions, not replace them.'Africans want to engage meaningfully amongst themselves and also with the rest of the world.'We must be very careful that we do not create a new scramble for Africa, that can generate more problems like in the past. It is essential that the institutions created by the African nations are respected,' said Mudavadi on a panel discussion about the Horn of Africa and the risks and opportunities in the region.'Resources are scarce and in particular resources channelled to conflict interventions are so limited even from the international community. Africa should therefore mainstream its efforts through recognised institutions that have structures for us to have a more coordinated approach to conflict resolution.'Some African leaders though agreed with reality: That warring parties tend to agree to mediations offered by parties abroad because they have a bigger leverage, or that African institutions that would have done so are too weak or carry little influence.'As African people, we need to establish strong systems of good governance. The world is watching Africa from the outside, observing what's happening,' said Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Béninois Foreign Minister.'If we fail to present a positive image, it becomes extremely difficult for our voices to be heard on the global stage,' he added on discussions about diplomacy in geopolitics. In the Horn, Türkiye has, meanwhile, placed its mark on nearly every country. Ankara had deployed its Oruç Reis, a seismic vessel that has been conducting 3D surveys in Somali waters since October 2024. It has engaged security support for Kenya and Ethiopia, including sale of drones and has reportedly backed Sudan's military government to re-establish authority in Khartoum. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Saba Yemen
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
UNRWA: No safe place in Gaza
Antalya – Saba: The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, affirmed that the situation in the Gaza Strip is a "hell" that is getting worse, pointing to the continued significant deterioration in the humanitarian situation following the resumption of the Israeli occupation's genocidal war. On the sidelines of his participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, Lazzarini said that there is absolutely no safe place in the Strip. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's Foreign Minister at forum in Türkiye: World understands need for just end to Ukraine war
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, has said following his participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in Türkiye that the world recognises the need to end the war in Ukraine in a fair manner. Source: Sybiha in an interview with Ukrinform Quote: "The key conclusion we can draw from bilateral and multilateral meetings, and from participation in discussion panels, is that everyone understands the need and importance of ending the war in Ukraine in a fair way. They support the achievement of a comprehensive and just peace for Ukraine, as well as the need to support Ukraine's efforts on this path to end this unprovoked war and stop Russian aggression." Details: Sybiha also noted that all of his interlocutors in Antalya recognise that "security in Ukraine, and the way this war against Ukraine ends, directly affects the security situation in other regions of the world – in Africa, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific". The minister added that he felt his interlocutors' support for Ukraine's "principled approach". He said he had held more than 20 meetings with representatives of African countries. The foreign minister said he had held more than 20 meetings with representatives of African countries. "We have huge potential in Africa. Despite the war, we have opened nine embassies there. We will increase our presence on the African continent because it is mutually beneficial. I am returning with a clear understanding of the specific areas that we will definitely strengthen. In terms of concrete results, it is also important that we have secured the decision of at least three African countries to stop accrediting their ambassadors through Moscow. This will change. It is a shameful practice. Consequently, this will lead to the strengthening and intensification of our bilateral relations," he said. Sybiha also called Türkiye one of Ukraine's most important strategic partners. "During meetings with Turkish representatives, we discussed security in the Black Sea and, potentially, Türkiye's participation in Ukraine's future security infrastructure and guarantees. We continue to count on Türkiye's active role in supporting our peace efforts. We welcome these efforts," the minister said. Reference: The Antalya Diplomatic Forum is taking place in Türkiye from 11–13 April. The theme of the forum is the restoration of diplomacy in a divided world. This year's forum is being attended by around 20 heads of state, more than 70 ministers (including 50 foreign ministers), approximately 60 high-level representatives of international organisations, and over 4,000 guests. Ukraine is represented at the forum by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Iraqi News
12-04-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq and Venezuela discuss joint coordination to support stability in global oil markets
Baghdad – INA Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein discussed today, Saturday, with his Venezuelan counterpart, Ivan Gil Pinto, joint coordination to support stability in global oil markets, in a manner that serves the interests of both producing and consuming countries. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Ivan Gil Pinto, on the sidelines of their participation in the Antalya Diplomatic Forum (ADF2025) held in the Turkish province of Antalya." The statement added that "the meeting discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Iraq and Venezuela, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, and investment, within the framework of the historical relations that unite the two countries within the OPEC organization. The two sides also discussed the importance of joint coordination to support stability in global oil markets, in a manner that serves the interests of both producing and consuming countries." According to the statement, Fuad Hussein expressed "Iraq's aspiration to expand cooperation with Venezuela, particularly in the field of oil companies and promising economic sectors," stressing "the importance of strengthening partnerships between the private sectors of both countries." The statement continued, "Ivan Gil Pinto, for his part, affirmed his country's commitment to strengthening bilateral dialogue, extending an official invitation to Fuad Hussein to visit Venezuela," and expressing his "welcome to visit the capital, Caracas, as soon as possible to continue discussions on prospects for joint cooperation." The statement continued, "The meeting addressed regional and international issues of common interest, including efforts to achieve stability in the Middle East and Latin America. Both sides emphasized the importance of adopting political solutions to crises and respecting the sovereignty of states."
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian and Turkish foreign ministers discuss Ukraine in Türkiye's Antalya
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian war during their meeting in Türkiye on Saturday 12 April. Source: Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah, citing a Turkish diplomatic source, as reported by European Pravda Details: Fidan and Lavrov also discussed energy cooperation and bilateral relations during a meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum in southern Türkiye, the source said. They also discussed current events in Syria and the situation in Gaza. Ankara has consistently defended Ukraine's territorial integrity since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. However, it also maintains good ties with Russia and remains the only NATO member that has not joined sanctions against Moscow. Türkiye supports a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine-Russia war. Ankara has repeatedly proposed itself as a venue for peace talks. The three-day forum, which began on Friday in the southern Turkish city of Antalya, is devoted to the theme of Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World. Background: Fidan recently stated that Türkiye is ready to join any new European security architecture if NATO collapses. Before that, the Turkish Ministry of Defence noted that the country was ready to deploy troops to Ukraine "if necessary" to ensure peace. Earlier, media reports suggested that Ankara, in discussions with representatives from both Ukraine and Russia, expressed its willingness to consider deploying its military on Ukrainian soil as part of a peacekeeping force. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
