Minister Fidan: It is important that Israel is condemned to isolation

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan spoke at a joint press conference held with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil.

Minister Fidan said, "We are pleased to see that the efforts we have been carrying out for a long time as Turkey, together with our friends and allies, to apply all kinds of diplomatic pressure on Israel in the international arena are bearing fruit. The massacre has not stopped, the genocide continues, but international pressure on Israel is increasing in an unprecedented way in recent decades. This is an important achievement."

Highlights from Fidan's statement are as follows:

Our relations with Venezuela are progressing in every field. In particular, as Turkey, Venezuela is at the center of our Latin America and Caribbean outreach. Thanks to the mutual efforts we have made in recent years and the increase in trade, Turkey is becoming an increasingly effective actor in Latin America, especially in Venezuela. As a Ministry, in parallel with this, we have established a new General Directorate in our Ministry that is responsible solely for Latin America and the Caribbean.

"WE HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS JOINTLY FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE"

I would like to express with pleasure that we think the same way as Venezuela regarding Gaza, and we are acting in the same way. We are also taking a joint stance in international platforms. We have decided to continue our efforts jointly regarding the cessation of the massacre in Gaza and the recognition of the Palestinian state.

GIL: VENEZUELA IS TURKEY'S MOST RELIABLE ALLY IN LATIN AMERICA

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Gil made the following statements:

These relations, which were developed on the basis of friendship between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and our President Nicolás Maduro, and which were also developed with the aim of protecting them, have now reached this point. We have made positive progress in the last 7 years.

I believe that trade relations will exceed 1 billion dollars this year. A target has been set to increase this to 3 billion dollars in the coming years.

We can say that we are truly heading in the right direction. We are showing very impressive development. Turkey has always stood firmly against the sanctions imposed on Venezuela and has been by our side. We have truly shown growth in terms of gross domestic product in the last 11 quarters.

Venezuela is positioned completely against the genocide that the state of Israel is inflicting on Palestine. Venezuela very clearly recognizes Palestine as an independent and free country. Venezuela is the most reliable ally Turkey can have in Latin America, and we will continue to work in this direction.

FIDAN: IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT ISRAEL IS CONDEMNED TO ISOLATION

When asked by a member of the press after the joint press statement about the increase in the number of states recognizing Palestine and the steps that can be taken to end the crisis in Gaza and achieve a two-state solution, Fidan replied:

"First of all, I would like to express that we welcome the decision of three European countries to recognize Palestine as a state. In fact, we are pleased to see that the efforts we have been carrying out for a long time as Turkey, together with our friends and allies, to apply all kinds of diplomatic pressure on Israel in the international arena are bearing fruit. The massacre has not stopped, the genocide continues, but international pressure on Israel is increasing in an unprecedented way in recent decades. This is an important achievement. This struggle is a long-term struggle, and we need to continue this struggle systematically, without tiring, without giving up, and without getting weary.

After Turkey, other countries have also decided to become parties to the case filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice. We believe that this number will gradually increase. It is extremely important that Israel is condemned to isolation in both the diplomatic and legal fields."

Within the scope of the meeting, the following were also signed: The Joint Declaration of the Fourth Turkey-Venezuela Joint Cooperation Commission Meeting, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Fields of Health and Medical Sciences, the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation between Civil Aviation Authorities, the Co-production Agreement on Audiovisual Services, the 2024-2026 Implementation Program on Cooperation in the Field of Education, the Agreement on the Turkish Maarif Foundation Schools in Venezuela, the 2025-2027 Tourism Implementation Program, the Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education Scholarships, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Teresa Carreño Theater Foundation and the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet.

News Source: 12punto