Turkey eager to use local currencies in trade: FM

CARACAS

Turkey is eager to use local currencies in bilateral trade deals to counter efforts by the U.S., Turkey’s foreign minister said late Sept. 21.

"We are so keen actually to use local currencies in our bilateral trade, not only between Turkey and Venezuela, but also between Turkey and other countries," Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said at a joint press conference in Caracas with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza.

Çavuşoğlu said since the U.S. administration has been using the dollar as a tool to attack other countries’ economies, many countries have been trying to use local currencies in trade.

He added that Turkey is not against the currency of any country, but currencies should not be used as instruments to attack other nations' economies.

Çavuşoğlu said Turkey also became a target recently and that is why it experienced fluctuations in its currency.

"But we have been standing very strong and taking all measures to make our economy more stable," he said.

Regarding Turkish-Venezuelan relations, Çavuşoğlu said Turkey and Venezuela’s presidents are "like brothers".

"Venezuela has been passing through a critical period, and we are doing our best to support it," he said.

Çavuşoğlu said economic cooperation between the two countries has deepened and both countries have benefitted from that.

He said Turkish Airlines has also discovered the potential of Venezuela and increased the frequency of its flights to Caracas to seven times a week.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Arreaza, for his part, said Turkey and Venezuela have brotherly relations.

Arreaza said Turkey supported Venezuela when the latter was under an economic blockade.

He said Turkey and Venezuela share the same positions on international relations and politics.

Arreaza added that Venezuela signed agreements with Turkey in important fields such as tourism, fisheries and agriculture.

Two agreements were signed during Çavuşoğlu’s visit.

Later, Çavuşoğlu also met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

After the meeting, Çavuşoğlu held a press conference with Vice President Delcy Rodriguez.

Speaking to reporters, Çavuşoğlu said Turkey and Venezuela will increase solidarity as they survive through tough times.

"We will stand by the Venezuelan state and people under all circumstances," he added.