The First Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Turkey-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu is being held in Istanbul.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that the Caribbean occupies an important place in Turkey’s global outreach strategy and Turkey considers the Caribbean countries as its distant neighbors that represent the voice of the global conscience.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stressed that despite being in different hemispheres, Turkey and the Caribbean share many common and complementary aspects and challenges including economy, natural disasters and climate change.

Noting that in the last five years, Turkey has displayed a clear commitment to engage with CARICOM and the individual member states on a sustainable basis, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said “Our contributions to the Caribbean Development Fund reached 8 million dollars and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has carried out numerous bilateral development projects with member countries”.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stated that as part of Turkey’s free market and free trade oriented approach, Turkey is willing to start free trade negotiations with CARICOM in the near future and underlined that combating climate change and natural disasters appear as new areas where Turkey and CARICOM could cooperate.

“Turkey is and will remain as a reliable partner of CARICOM, amplifying your voice in different regions and countries of the globe, including international organizations” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and added that Turkey-CARICOM cooperation will increase considerably in the near future, on the basis of continuity, sustainability, mutual respect, friendship and benefit.

Statement by Foreign Minister Davutoğlu at the Meeting of Turkey-CARICOM Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism.