Türkiye applied to the OAS on 7 July 1998 for “Permanent Observer” status and was granted it on 16 September 1998. Subsequently, the “Framework Agreement on Cooperation between the Organization of American States and the Republic of Turkey” was signed and it entered into force on 7 March 2011.

Türkiye’s relations with the OAS are an indication of its interest in regions beyond its geography, new organizations and cultures.

Transferring our knowledge and experience to the OAS, understanding and incorporating the web of relations among states of the OAS and reflecting it in our relations with our region as an added value will be a mutual benefit of Türkiye-OAS relations.

Türkiye’s share in the overall funding of the OAS is relatively modest. Türkiye finances various projects each year. In 2010, Türkiye’s donation doubled to 80.000 USD in comparison with 2009.

Türkiye’s above-mentioned support and its participation in the annual meetings of the General Assembly of the OAS as a “Permanent Observer” have been welcomed by the Organization.

The “Framework Agreement on Cooperation between the Organization of American States and the Republic of Turkey” was signed on 25 August 2004 and it entered into force on 7 March 2011. The first article of the Agreement stipulates the establishment of a mechanism of general and special cooperation for coordinating the activities of the Parties through exchange of technical know-how, information and experts, arranging training programs, research activities and seminars in the field of environment, sustainable development, tourism, education, culture, science, technology, natural disasters, energy, social development, business development, industrial development, information technologies, physical planning, and other topics to be mutually agreed upon by the Parties.

It is expected that the Agreement will lay the contractual basis for the diversification of relations between Türkiye and the OAS. It is also expected that the Agreement will provide an opportunity for Türkiye to gradually increase its “contributions in kind” to the Organization.

With the letter of its Secretary-General Mr. José Miguel Insulza, dated 3 December 2010, the OAS declared its support to the joint initiative for mediation by Türkiye and Finland under the auspices of the U.N. and agreed to participate in the “Friends of Mediation” group.