Erdogan victory to turn Qatar-Turkey ties stronger: Envoy

DOHA: Terming the resounding victory of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in June 24 elections ‘very important’ for regional stability and prosperity of Turkey, Ambassador of Turkey to Qatar Fikret Ozer said yesterday that President Erdogan’s victory would make Qatar-Turkey relations stronger.

“Turkey-Qatar relations are very strong and they will become stronger with the election victory of President Erdogan,” said Fikret Ozer while talking to The Peninsula.

The Turkish Ambassador said that success of President Erdogan in elections was historic and very important for the region. “Last year through a referendum Turkey amended the constitution that replaced parliamentary system of government with the presidential system. On June 24, 2018, both President Erdogan and People’s Alliance comprised of Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) gained victory in presidential and parliamentary elections held simultaneously,” he said.

He said that Turkey was geographically placed at a strategically important location and the surrounding region was facing various conflicts and challenges like Syria, Palestine etc. “Turkey being an important country of the region and as head of OIC has to play a crucial role. Now after President Erdogan’s victory, Turkey can make important and urgent decisions to bring stability and peace in the region,” he added.

Ozer said that in Turkey too many mega projects were underway which would be completed at a faster pace after Erdogan’s election.

He said Turkey-Qatar relations were very strong covering political, economic and security spheres.  “The victory of President Erdogan under new presidential system would make these relations more stronger,” he noted.

On current Gulf crisis, the ambassador said that Turkey was trying to find a solution of the problem as it also had maintained relations with Saudi Arabia and other countries involved in the crisis.

He said that economic relations between Turkey and Qatar strengthened after imposition of siege against Qatar.

“Our bilateral trade volume which was $860m in 2016 increased to $1.3bn in 2017; a 64percent surge in one year,” he said.

The ambassador said that an agreement between two countries to enhance bilateral trade and investment would be signed in a couple of months, most likely by August this year, that would make bureaucratic procedures easier for bilateral investment and trade as well as introduce some tax exemptions.

To another question, Fikret Ozer said that Qatari investments in Turkey were amounted to around $19bn (both government and private).

He said that Qataris had invested in banking, real estate and industrial sectors.

“Turkish companies on the other hand doing mega projects in Qatar like Qatar Rail, 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums,” he said, adding that a Turkish firm was also producing fodder for livestock in Qatar. The ambassador lauded Qatar’s efforts and initiatives towards achieving food security.

“Qatar efforts towards achieving self-sufficiency in food are excellent. In the last one year, food security position of Qatar has improved a lot and 50 new local products were launched after the siege,” he added.