No: 162, 25 May 2014

May 25, which is the anniversary of the foundation of the African Union is celebrated as Africa Day all around the world. In this framework, Gazi University in Ankara hosted a range of events on 21-22 May 2014. Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr Beşir Atalay represented the Government at the inauguration of the events which were organized in collaboration with the African embassies in Ankara.

Panels and meetings organized in commemoration of Africa Day with the participation of more than thirty chancellors and vice-chancellors of African universities have been productive and useful for expressing views regarding the development of the Turkey-Africa Partnership. We aim at carrying Turkish-African cooperation one step further through decisions that will be adopted in the Second Turkey-Africa Summit which will be held in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, on November 2014.

The African Continent is one of the rising actors in international relations. It has been consolidating its position and increasing its influence in the international system day by day thanks to its human potential and natural resources. Celebrating this year the 51st anniversary of its foundation, the African Union finds solutions to the problems faced by the continent and conducts active diplomacy for producing policies serving the interests of Africans.

Turkey will keep sharing its historical experience, its social, political and cultural knowledge and its possibilities and resources with African governments and peoples based on the principle of “African solutions for African problems” and on mutual benefit. Moreover, as a strategic partner of the African Union, Turkey will continue to support African countries and to be the voice of Africa in regional and international platforms.