Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates
The program of the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was held at the Dolmabahçe Labor Office. After the signing ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a statement.
“THE TURKISH NATION WILL NEVER FORGET THE HELPING HAND EXTENDED TO IT ON THIS DIFFICULT DAY”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said:
* “We were shaken to an unprecedented extent and intensity by two large earthquakes measuring 7.7 and 7.6 on the morning of February 6. The earthquakes, which were effective in an area of 500 km in 11 provinces where about 14 million of our people live, caused great destruction. Aftershocks are still continuing, each of which has reached the size of a separate earthquake. We’re almost caught in some kind of seismic storm. Earth scientists agree that the process we are going through is not normal. Although the difficulties we are experiencing are great, we, as a State and a nation, heal the wounds with all our might.
* As a result of damage assessment studies, we identified 584 thousand independent sections in 204 thousand destroyed buildings, urgently to be demolished and severely damaged. Hopefully, within a year, we will complete construction of high-quality, safe structures that will address the housing need throughout the earthquake zone. In this process, our greatest supporters are our friends and brothers like the United Arab Emirates. From day one, your search and rescue teams that you sent to Turkey have supported our activities in Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman.
* Their field hospitals provide great support to our health services in Hatay and Gaziantep. On behalf of myself and my nation, we thank you for your support in kind and transportation, especially with the air and sea corridors you have assigned for the transportation of aid. The Turkish nation will never forget this helping hand extended to them on this difficult day.”
“I BELIEVE WE WILL INCREASE OUR COMMERCIAL VOLUME TO 25 BILLION DOLLARS IN 5 YEARS”
Erdogan used the following statements in the continuation of his speech:
* “The development of relations between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, which are based on solid foundations, in all fields is a source of pride for us. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which has just been signed, is of historical importance with this characteristic, as it is in all respects. With the agreement, our economic and trade relations entered a new stage.
* Thanks to the agreement, which was ready for signature in just one year, barriers to trade in goods and services will be removed, and the activities of our investors and entrepreneurs, including SMEs, will be facilitated. In this way, we will build an economic bridge on solid foundations from Europe to North Africa, from Russia to the Gulf. I believe that thanks to the comprehensive nature of the agreement, we will increase our trade volume to the level of 25 billion dollars in 5 years.
* The vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan En-Nehyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, known for his love of Turkey, has been a major determinant of how far our relations have come. On this occasion, I ask God to have mercy on him. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the signing of the agreement, especially our Trade Ministers. I take this opportunity to greet my dear brother, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed, and his entire family, on behalf of myself, my wife and the Turkish nation, with all my heart. I entrust you to Allah in the hope that we will meet as soon as possible.” DHA