Turkey to enhance ties with Latin American countries

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will continue to enhance relations with the countries in Latin America and in the Caribbean, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"We will continue to develop our bilateral and multilateral relations with the countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region which have an important place in our opening policy," Erdogan told reporters in the capital Ankara.

Erdogan's remarks came after concluding his visits to Argentina, Paraguay and Venezuela.

He said the leaders discussed global trade, infrastructural investments, modern tax system, new risks and vulnerabilities in the financial system, as well as the fight against terrorism during G20 Leaders' Summit in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

"During our bilateral meetings, the Jamal Khashoggi issue frequently came to the agenda," Erdogan said.

Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, went missing after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

The Saudi government changed its story on the murder, first denying it took place, then suggesting it was accidental and finally referring to it as a rogue operation.

Erdogan said following the G20 meeting, he was honored to pay Turkey’s first presidential visit to Paraguay and Venezuela.

"I believe that we will more clearly see the positive effects of our meetings on our relations with Paraguay and Venezuela in the upcoming period," he added.