Ankara, Bogota to boost ties as Colombian polls near

By Lokman Ilhan

BOGOTA, Colombia

Turkey and Colombia have “great potential” to enhance bilateral ties, Turkish ambassador to the country told Anadolu Agency as Colombians go to the polls on Sunday.

“There is a great potential to enable a further enhancement of relations on the basis of mutual benefit,” Ece Ozturk Cil said ahead of presidential elections in Colombia slated for May 27.

Anadolu Agency’s Spanish broadcast, which was launched last year, state aid agency Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s (TIKA) operations as well as Turkish Airlines’ direct flights, have brought Colombia to a pivotal position in Latin America and Caribbean area in terms of Turkish initiatives.

According to Cil, stability in the country is expected to continue following a 2016-peace deal with the Revolutionary Alternative Force of the Common People (FARC).

On Nov. 24, 2016, Colombian government signed a peace deal with the FARC, ending 52 years of civil war. The FARC laid down its arms after a decades-long conflict killed more than 260,000 victims and displaced seven million.

Cil said Turkey will strive to complete negotiations on free trade agreements and improve relations with the new government.

Turkey and Colombia have conducted seven rounds of negotiations for free trade agreements.

The trade volume between the two countries, which was $350 million in 2010, has increased to $1.8 billion.

Anadolu Agency’s Spanish broadcast was also filling a big gap on information from Turkey, she added.

- Boosting cultural ties

Cil said the two countries have the potential to improve ties on culture and education.

“Opening the Yunus Emre Institute in Colombia in the coming period is one of our aims,” she added.

Established in 2009, Yunus Emre Institute provides services abroad to people, who want to learn the Turkish language, culture, and art. One of its aims is to improve Turkey’s friendship with other countries and increase cultural exchanges.

Named after the 13th-century poet Yunus Emre, the institute now has nearly 54 cultural centers around the world offering artistic, social and scientific programs.

Turkey opened its embassy in Bogota in 2011 and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited Turkey as well as opened Colombian embassy in the country.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the first Turkish president to visit the country after his 2015 visit.

In 2016, TIKA Bogota Program Coordination was launched and Turkish Airliners began its Istanbul-Bogota flights. Turkish Friendship Group has been established at the Colombian parliament.

The number of Colombians visiting Turkey has increased to 30,000 in 2017 from 13,000 in 2012 after Turkish Airlines’ flights were launched.

Turkish aid agency TIKA also shares its experience on Syrian refugees in Turkey with Colombian counterparts as the country hosts at least one million Venezuelans after an economic crisis hit Caracas.