Doha, 29 Oct. 2020 (Qatar Tribune)

By Ashraf Siddiqui

Qatar and Turkey share deep-rooted relations and the bilateral trade has increased from $340 million in 2010 to over $2 billion in 2019, Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar HE Mehmet Mustafa Goksu has said.

“COVID-19 pandemic has hardly had any impact on the bilateral trade,” the Turkish envoy said while addressing a press conference to mark the 97th Foundation Day of Turkey.

He said the Turkish embassy in Qatar has planned week-long mini events (in compliance with preventive measures) to celebrate the national day with “our Qatari and resident brothers”.

He said Qatar and Turkey enjoy deep-rooted relations since the end of 19th century.
“We are strategic partners and have made remarkable progress in recent years in all fields. We share same principles in terms of activating mediation efforts, diplomacy and dialogue as the basis for resolving disputes,” he added.

The envoy said both Turkey and Qatar are aligned with truth and justice that fulfils the interests of their people, their aspiration for preserving freedom and respecting sovereignty of other countries.

The Turkish envoy praised His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the unforgettable support and stand with Turkish people in times of major challenges, especially after the 2018 failed coup attempt. The Turkish people stood by Qatar as it faces an unjust blockade since June 2017, he added.

The Turkish envoy said that he feels honoured to represent his country in Qatar, a nation that carries great diplomatic, economic and humanitarian weight in the world. The envoy said he is fully committed to further strengthening the bilateral relations.

He said the Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee was established in 2014. Political and security rapprochement between Qatar and Turkey was reflected in their economies, and this strengthened the summit meetings between the Turkish president and HH the Amir.

He said there are 50 bilateral agreements between the two countries covering almost every sector to strengthen the bilateral relations. New agreements are in the pipeline to be signed during the next Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee meeting to be held before the end of the year, he added.
The envoy said Turkey had under gone enormous transformations to find a place among the developed countries of the world. “Turkey has faced many challenges targeting its security and stability. It saw an attempted coup on July 15, 2016. We were able to overcome it, thanks to the will and awareness of our people,” the envoy added.
He said Turkey is playing a significant role at the world level during this COVID-19 pandemic.
The envoy said Turkey has achieved self-sufficiency in medical equipment and supplies for meeting local demand. Turkey has also provided medical aid to 125 countries around the world to combat the pandemic, he added.