The Sunday Mail
Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in Zimbabwe last week. It was the first-ever visit by a Turkish minister to the country. Our Correspondent WALLACE RUZVIDZO (WR) sat down with Turkiye’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mrs Berna Kasnakli Versteden (BKV) to discuss the high-level visit.
WR: What was the significance of Minister Cavusoglu’s visit to Zimbabwe?
BKV: As you have said this is the first Ministerial visit from Türkiye to Zimbabwe therefore, it is very significant.
It shows how our relations are nurturing.
There were important issues to be discussed to bring our relations to another level. The two Ministers held a comprehensive talks covering all aspects of our relations and how to enhance them.
WR: WR: What were some of the key issues discussed during Minister Cavusoglu’s engagement with Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava?
BKV: They had a chance to discuss all the areas.
Firstly, the two Ministers had a tete-a-tete and then they went into the bi-lateral talks that also included the delegations.
The talks were very fruitful.
They agreed to maintain the visits at the high level and also at parliamentary level which is a very important aspect of relations.
They agreed to accelerate some of the agreements and documents that are under review and finalise them as soon as possible.
I am very confident that we can do it.
I should also mention that the focus of the talks was also on trade and the economy and possible Turkish investments and how to boost trade because ministers concurred that the current trade figures do not reflect our potential.
WR: WR: Can you give us finer details on areas of interest for Turkish investments into Zimbabwe?
BKV: Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu highlighted the potential for Turkish businesspeople especially contractors because Zimbabwe is embarking on important infrastructure development projects and this is an area where Turkish business circles are experienced also in Africa.
Minister Çavuşoğlu also highlighted Turkish companies’ experience in energy sector.
Of course they discussed all the areas which could be open like textiles, machinery, agriculture.
WR: What is the progress on plans to have Turkish Airlines flying into Zimbabwe?
BKV: That was one of the items in the talks and we heard from Minister Shava and Acting President Chiwenga that there is a wish to see Turkish Airlines flying to and from Zimbabwe.
There we some technical level talks with the Turkish Airlines and the aviation authorities here but yet to be finalised. We will continue to encourage Turkish Airlines to fly to Zimbabwe.
WR: Can you give us an update on the joint venture deal between the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Turkish company Yapi Merkezi?
BKV: That is also one of the items that both delegations raised and I have been instructed to follow up on those discussions because there is an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Yapi Merkezi and PCDD which is the state railways of the Republic of Türkiye and this has not been put into effect.
WR: Previously, you mentioned that one of your missions here was to expedite the implementation of MoUs already in place. What is the progress on these?
BKV: We have discussed that progress as well and both Minister Çavuşoğlu and Minister Shava agreed to speed up the progress.
So I believe I will be having more meetings in the weeks to come with my Zimbabwean counterparts.
There is room to expedite all those.
WR: Is there a possibility of visits between the two countries by the two Presidents?
BKV: Absolutely, it shows the possibility. Without a doubt, there will be more high-level visits in the near future.
There will be the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that will be held in Antalya between March 8 and 10 and my Minister extended invitations and he got very positive replies.
