Brazil-Turkey Joint Statement - Rio de Janeiro, June 21, 2012.

Turkey and Brazil: Enduring Partnership in a New Global Order

The meeting between President Dilma Rousseff and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 21, 2012, on the margins of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro on June 20-22, 2012, is a clear indication of the importance attributed by Turkey and Brazil to the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

The two countries, who have overridden the impacts of geographical distance by establishing and maintaining close relations, value the importance of acting together in meeting the challenges of the evolving global order. The countries acknowledge that the current pattern of multilateralism provides ample opportunities for emerging actors, such as Brazil and Turkey, to play pivotal roles in providing solutions to complex international problems.

Brazil and Turkey continue to forge their strong bilateral relations and their cooperation in the international realm on the basis of mutual respect for universal values including peace, security, stability, democracy, rule of law, good governance and promotion of human rights.

Against this background, the two Leaders reviewed the recent progress in bilateral relations which have experienced a substantial development in the last few years. They praised the continuation of high level contacts and political consultation processes realized as a result of strong political will on both sides.

The Leaders specifically highlighted the importance of High Level Cooperation Commission meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, as well as the political consultation mechanisms carried out at the Undersecretary/Secretary-General level of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, both held annually. Both countries also agreed to regulary conduct policy planning consultations.

They welcomed the development in economic relations as well as the growth of the bilateral trade volume up to almost 3 billion USD in 2011, at a time of international financial crisis. They reiterated their determiniation to reach the 10 billion USD target in trade. They highlighted the importance of the entry into force of the Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to the Taxes on Income, signed in December 2010, in promoting mutual investments. They also agreed to convene the Third Meeting of the Joint Economic Commission, in Brazil within the year.

In the realm of defense, the Leaders welcomed the successful outcomes of the official visit carried out by the Turkish Minister of National Defense, İsmet Yılmaz, to Brazil in May 2012, upon the invitation of Celso Amorim, Minister of Defense of Brazil. On the occasion, public and private companies from the defense industry held productive meetings. In this respect, the Leaders noted the increased cooperation between the two countries’ defense industries and emphasized the importance of further promoting it.

The Leaders also expresssed their willingness to explore the opportunities to develop their cooperation in the aerospace field.

The Leaders stressed the necessity to continue strengthening cooperation in the field of energy. The leaders stressed the importance of the establishment of the Energy Sub-Committee within the year.

The Leaders also expressed their satisfaction with the intensification of cultural ties between Brazil and Turkey. They welcomed the decision of the Turkish Goverment to open the Tourism and Promotion Office under the Turkish Consulate General in Sao Paulo. They highlighted the positive impact of the direct flights between Sao Paulo and Istanbul in promoting and increasing cultural and touristic activities.

They spoke at length about their close collaboration in the multinational fora. They emphasized the importance of the synergy created by acting together in understanding and facing the complex dynamics of the international system.

The Leaders praised the success of the Rio+20 Conference, making special reference to the added value of extensive and high level participation. They considered the Conference to be a critical effort in attaining sustainable development and emphasized the importance of implementing the set goals.

Welcoming the growing roles of Turkey and Brazil as donors and dynamic actors in global development efforts, the Leaders agreed to further intensify cooperation and coordination between the two countries in the international development architecture, in particular in the area of South-South Cooperation. In this vein, the Leaders pledged that Turkey and Brazil will engage in sustained joint efforts in all relevant international platforms to promote lasting solutions to the problems and challenges faced by developing countries, especially the Least Developed Countries.

The leaders expressed their satisfaction with the existing level of cooperation between Brazil and Turkey within international organizations in particular the UN, which has a central role in the establishment and sustainability of global peace, stability and prosperity. They agreed upon the need for the comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council in order to make it more representative, democratic and responsive to meet the challenges of our era more effectively. Brazil reiterated its support for Turkey’s candidacy to a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the period of 2015-2016.

The Leaders underlined the importance of the G-20 and its international economic policies at a time when most countries struggle with economic crisis. They agreed on pursuing a more intense consultation between the two countries regarding the matters of the G-20.

They emphasized the importance of the relations between Turkey and MERCOSUL. Prime Minister Erdoğan reitareted Turkey’s strong desire for the resumption of negotiations between Turkey and MERCOSUL of a Free Trade Agreement and for holding the first meeting of Political Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism and requested Brazil’s support in this respect.

President Rousseff expressed appreciation for Turkey’s support for Brazil’s bid for observer status at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC).

The two Leaders expressed full support to the legitimate aspirations of peoples in the Middle East and North Africa for democracy, human rights, the rule of law, dignity and social justice. They underlined the need for popular movements to make such demands in a peaceful manner and the imperative of governments to respond in the same manner. They condemned the use of force and violence against the peoples who are trying to make their rightful and legitimate demands heard through peaceful means. They also reaffirmed their full support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State within the June 4th 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Reviewing the latest developments in Syria, both leaders expressed their deep concern at the continuation of violence against the civilians, which they agreed must stop immediately and unconditionally. They expressed full support to UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy Annan’s effort and called for complete and immediate implementation of the Annan’s six-point plan in its entirety in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions 2042 and 2043. They underlined the importance of initiating without delay a inclusive, Syrian-led political process aimed at democratically and effectively addressing the the legitimate aspirations of Syrian people.

The Leaders also highlighted the importance of other joint cooperation areas including the Alliance of Civilizations, the Istanbul Mediation Conference and the Open Goverment Partnership İnitiative.

The Leaders recognized each other’s interest in further developing relations with the African Countries. In this vein, they decided to hold regular consultation between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs in order to exchange experiences with regard to Africa.

President Rousseff and Prime Minister Erdoğan agreed on the necessity of acting together and seeking common peaceful solutions to regional problems that have global ramifications.

In this respect, the Leaders agreed to strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms and develop new ones as deemed necessary, encouraging the implementation of the Action Plan for Strategic Partnership as their road map.

The Leaders concluded that, with the mutual sharing of a peace culture as well as dedication to the same set of universal values, the enduring partnership between Brazil and Turkey is capable to continue conrtibuting to international peace and stability, with resolve.

Both Leaders explored the possibility of cooperation in the field of urban development and regeneration. In this regard, Minister of Urban Development and Environment of Turkey, Mr. Erdogan Bayraktar, will visit Brazil in the second semester of 2012.