“We have increased our trade volume with Algeria to the level of $4.2 billion despite the pandemic conditions”

Holding a joint press conference with President Tebboune of Algeria, President Erdoğan said: “We have increased our trade volume to the level of $4.2 billion, up 35% from the previous year despite the pandemic conditions.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Presidential Complex.

Expressing his happiness to be hosting his Algerian counterpart Tebboune in Ankara on the occasion of the first meeting of the High-Level Cooperation Council, President Erdoğan noted that this first presidential visit from Algeria to Türkiye in 17 years would add momentum to the bilateral relations. Congratulating the 60^th anniversary of Algeria’s independence, President Erdoğan remembered with mercy all the heroes who had lost their lives for the liberation of their homeland.

“WE SHARE A COMMON HISTORY DATING BACK TO 500 YEARS AGO”

Stressing that this year also marks the 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Algeria, President Erdoğan stated: “As the two friendly and brotherly countries, we share a common history dating back to 500 years ago. We had decided during my visit to Algeria back in 2020 to institute the High-Level Cooperation Council, which takes our bilateral relations to a new basis. And it is today that we have had the opportunity to hold the first meeting. On this occasion, we have reaffirmed our determination to further enhance our cooperation.”

Stating that the Türkiye-Algeria relations were thoroughly discussed during talks in Ankara, President Erdoğan said: “We have underscored our determination to increasingly continue our solidarity both in bilateral relations and at multilateral platforms. Our economic and commercial ties have been improving every passing day. During my visit back in 2020, we had set a target of $5 billion. We have increased our trade volume to the level of $4.2 billion, up 35% from the previous year despite the pandemic conditions. Setting the bar higher today, we have designated our new target as $10 billion.”

President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “We appreciate the initiatives Algeria, one of Africa’s gateways to the world, undertakes to diversify its production. In this issue as well, we as Türkiye stand with our Algerian brothers. Our investors, one of the locomotives of our economic cooperation, are also closely following this process.”

“NEITHER FINLAND NOR SWEDEN HAS A CLEAR STANCE TOWARDS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS”

Answering reporters’ questions following his remarks, President Erdoğan, in response to a question regarding Finland and Sweden’s bid to join NATO, said: “Neither of these countries has an open, clear stance towards terrorist organizations. Furthermore, even if they say during this process that they oppose these terrorist organizations, there are those statements in which they have said they would not extradite some terrorists whom they have to.”

President Erdoğan stated: “As you know Greece had left NATO. The administration at that period had ensured the re-joining of Greece to NATO. Now, I ask my nation watching us at their homes. Do the preeminent countries within NATO provide Greece with all kinds of support? Yes, they do. Do they set up bases in Greece? Yes, they do. How can we believe them? Sweden is already a hotbed of terrorist organizations. They issue special invitations to terrorists, bring them to their parliaments and make them speak there. How can we trust them? They will reportedly come to Türkiye on Monday. Are they coming to convince us? Excuse me but there is no need to bother themselves. Above all, we cannot say ‘yes’ to the joining of those, who impose sanctions on Türkiye, to NATO, which is a security organization. Because NATO will no longer be a security organization then. Instead, it will become a place where the representatives ─ so to speak ─ of terrorists will roam. It is impossible for us to say ‘yes’ to this.”