The Dominican Republic plans to open an embassy in Turkey, the country’s foreign minister confirmed on Wednesday, 19 April 2017, as reported in the Turkish press. Ankara opened its embassy in the Dominican Republic in 2013.
“We would like to open an embassy in your country within four or five months,” Miguel Vargas told reporters after meeting his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Ankara.
Turkey and the Dominican Republic signed a joint declaration of intent concerning cooperation on many areas including economy and defense, Çavuşoğlu said.
The pair discussed bilateral ties, regional issues and trade during the first official foreign ministerial visit from the Dominican Republic to Turkey.
Miguel Vargas became the first Dominican foreign minister on an official visit to Turkey. In Ankara, he met with his colleague Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and spoke on strengthening relations in bilateral areas of investment, trade, cultural and academic cooperation programs. The ministers agreed to an extensive work program that seeks advances in cooperation, investment and exports. There will also be emphasis on developing scholarships for students in undergraduate and graduate studies. The ministers signed a statement of intent to promote common democratic and cultural values and strengthen ties between both countries.
Minister Çavuşoğlu agreed to prepare a mission of Turkish businessmen to meet with Dominican business leaders to discuss possible investments and Dominican exports to Turkey.
Minister Çavuşoğlu had visited the Dominican Republic in February, when a cooperation agreement for the strengthening of tourism between both countries was signed.
In Turkey, Vargas will participate in the meeting of foreign ministers members of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Turkish authorities in Istanbul.
Turkey already cooperates with the Dominican Republic in responding to natural disasters. The HOPEFOR initiative — which aims to improve the effectiveness and coordination of military and civil defense assets in case of natural disaster — was formed in 2011 as a joint initiative of Turkey, Qatar and the Dominican Republic.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Foreign Relations
Daily Sabagh
20 April 2017
