French Newspaper La Croix’s Interview with Dr. Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu
French Newspaper La Croix’s Interview with Dr. Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu on President Erdoğan’s Recent Africa Tour
Marianne Meunier from the French newspaper La Croix made an interview with Dr. Elem Eyrice Tepeciklioğlu, research assistant at the International Law Implementation and Research Center, about President Erdogan’s recent visit to Africa – South Africa and Zambia. During the interview, Tepeciklioğlu discussed the evolution of Turkish-Africa relations and the underlying factors behind Turkey’s interest in Africa.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been invited to the “BRICS Plus” session at BRICS Leaders’ Summit held in Johannesburg in its capacity as the Summit Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. On the other hand, being the first presidential visit from Turkey to Zambia, Erdoğan’s visit has symbolic importance.
“Europe has always been at the top of Turkey’s agenda, but in the 1990s, the incumbent government sought to diversify its partners essentially for economic reasons”, said Tepeciklioğlu. Discussing the soft power instruments Turkish government uses in Sub-Saharan Africa and public diplomacy initiatives conducted through various public institutions, Turkey increases its visibility in those countries. For example, Turkish Airlines is a very important element of Turkey’s credibility in Africa.
Tepeciklioğlu further noted that Turkey’s Africa opening is one of the few foreign policy areas that has not faced serious challenges. “As Ankara, Nigeria or South Africa are calling for a reform of the United Nations” recalled Tepeciklioğlu and said, “There is a common vision and common interest between Africa and Turkey.”
Please click to the following link in order to read the article (in French):