President Erdogan calls for unified Western action on Gaza during joint press conference with Tanzanian president

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for unified Western action concerning Israel's actions in Gaza during a joint press conference with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Ankara on Thursday.

The joint press conference focused on bilateral ties between Türkiye and Tanzania as well as the ongoing situation in the Middle East

West should tell Israel to 'stop'

Speaking at a joint press conference with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Erdogan highlighted the disparity in global responses to conflicts, noting that while Western countries quickly unified in response to Iranian retaliation, they have failed to do the same in condemning Israeli attacks on Gaza.

"We have seen that Western countries were able to respond with a unified stance to Iran's retaliation. The same parties should now tell Israel to 'stop' with a unified stance." Erdogan said.

He underscored the urgency of the situation in Gaza, where what he described as one of the worst massacres of the century has been unfolding for 195 days. "We must exert more effort to stop the massacres in Gaza," Erdogan emphasized, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire followed by steps toward a two-state solution.

Erdogan also criticized attempts by Israel to distort the agenda and conceal the atrocities in Gaza, urging against allowing such efforts to succeed.

"Tanzania supports Türkiye's efforts to find peaceful resolutions to international conflicts. We also endorse the call for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, which is causing harm to the Palestinians," President Hassan stated during the press conference.

Bilateral cooperation between Tanzania and Türkiye

President Erdogan lauded the enduring partnership between Türkiye and Tanzania, citing the recent signing of six memoranda of understanding covering various sectors including railway construction, manufacturing, and tourism.

Since 1965, Türkiye and Tanzania have cultivated robust diplomatic ties, fostering collaboration across trade, education, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors. TTürkiye's consistent support for Tanzania's socio-economic advancement is evident in pivotal projects and initiatives. Both nations remain committed to mutual prosperity and sustainable development through reciprocal visits and joint endeavors.

"We discussed the comprehensive review of our cooperation in today's meetings. We addressed steps to increase mutual trade and investments," Erdogan stated, underscoring the importance of expanding bilateral trade, which reached $345 million last year with the potential to surpass $1 billion.

Echoing Erdogan's sentiments, President Hassan expressed Tanzania's gratitude for Türkiye's support in various fields, including development projects and human capital initiatives. "We appreciate Türkiye's contributions to our country's development, particularly in infrastructure and education," Hassan remarked.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception in Türkiye, Hassan reiterated Tanzania's commitment to strengthening beneficial relations between the two countries. "Türkiye is a valuable partner, and my visit here reaffirms the importance of this partnership," she said.

The Tanzanian president emphasized the progress made in various sectors through bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, and social development. She also underlined Tanzania's readiness to support Turkish investments and initiatives aimed at advancing infrastructure and human capital development in the country.

Highlighting the potential for further collaboration, Hassan emphasized Tanzania's commitment to facilitating investments from Turkish businesses. "We have agreed to work closely with Turkish companies to realize strategic projects, such as railway construction and modernization," Hassan remarked, acknowledging the pivotal role Turkish investments have played in advancing Tanzania's socio-economic progress

The Tanzanian president also announced plans for a trade and investment forum in Istanbul, aimed at promoting business opportunities and strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

The visit concluded with an invitation from Hassan for Erdogan to visit Tanzania, underscoring the commitment to strengthening the enduring partnership between the two nations.

Source: AA