Erdogan urged the Turkic countries to intensify mutual trade, investment and transport links

Istanbul/12.11.21/Turan: On Friday, at the opening of the Eighth summit of the leaders of the Turkic Council in Istanbul, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the elimination of barriers to cooperation between Turkic-speaking states. 

Erdogan called the level of trade between the member countries of the organization insufficient. “The trade turnover between our countries reaches $ 21 billion, which is only 3% of the volume of trade with other countries of the world. The countries of the Turkic Council should develop transport links, including along the Trans-Caspian corridor. The route through Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan) is also important,” he said.

The Turkish President also noted the importance of active struggle and solidarity in countering manifestations of terrorism, including with PKK-YPG militants, DEASH and Fetullah Gulen's organization.

Turkic-speaking countries should implement joint projects within the framework of the ecological concept "Green development of the economy".

Erdogan invited the leaders to form a single Civil Defense Mechanism of the Turkic Council, which will help in eliminating the consequences of natural disasters. He called on the countries of the Turkic Council to take part in the removal of the blockade of Northern Cyprus, "which is an integral part of the Turkic world" and expressed hope for the admission of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to the Turkic Council.

The countries of the Turkic Council must jointly confront the "plague of modernity" - the destructive consequences of xenophobia and Islamophobia, the Turkish leader noted. -02B-