Turkey seeking strategic relations with Sudan: official
February 27, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Emrullah Isler announced on Thursday that his Ankara is moving towards the establishment of strategic relationships with Sudan in the coming months and pledged his country’s full support for all efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the East African nation.
He noted that Turkey is positively monitoring peace and supporting negotiations in Sudan adding that his country used to undertake an isolationist policy in the past but is now pursuing a policy of openness with all world countries especially Africa .
The Turkish official underscored the continuation of their support to Sudan in economic, agricultural, trade and cultural fields.
Sudan’s 2nd Vice President of Sudan Hassabo Mohammed Abdul-Rahman for his part emphasized the presidency ‘s commitment to remove all obstacles facing investments between Sudan and Turkey on the basis of Khartoum’s keenness to establish external relations for mutual benefits with other countries.
“We seek to work a strategic relationship with the state of Turkey, especially in the field of investments in diverse natural resources in Sudan ,” Abdul-Rahman said.
He disclosed that they will soon sign new agreements with Turkey in the fields of economic, agricultural, social security and voluntary work .
The VP also praised the work of the Joint Ministerial Commission in enforcing the agreements signed, valuing the exchange of expertise between the two sides.
The Turkey-based Anadolu Agency said that the 11,000-square-meter Sudan-Turkey Training and Research Hospital funded by the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) contains 31 polyclinics.
The hospital also has biochemistry, microbiology and pathology laboratories, as well as a blood bank and radiology center.
The radiology center is equipped with advanced imaging devices, including two conventional MR machines –one for mammography and one for tomography – and five for ultrasound treatment.
The ministries of health in both countries inked an operations deal last year to run the hospital jointly for five years. It will also provide training for 50 Sudanese health workers each year.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was supposed to visit Sudan since 2012 to inaugurate the hospital but his trip kept getting postponed for unknown reasons.
(ST)