Turkey hails Harare, Istanbul relations

at his Munhumutapa Office in Harare yesterday, Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Kemal Demirciler said relations between the two countries flourished after the setting up of an embassy in Harare.
“Zimbabwe and Turkey have good relations since independence and it is important that we explore ways of mutual understanding beneficial to our countries,” he said.
Mr Demirciler said Turkey wanted to do joint ventures with Zimbabwe and engage in other investment deals.
He said it was almost a year after they established an embassy in Harare and they were still in the process of setting up infrastructure.
Mr Demirciler said before setting the embassy, they had no proper representation in Harare.
Zimbabwe and Turkey have good relations although trade between the two countries is low. Zimbabwe exports tobacco and mineral products to Turkey. After meeting Mr Demirciler, Cde Nkomo met Canadian ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Lisa Stadelbauer.
Ms Stadelbauer conceded that government-to-government relations between Harare and Ottawa were strained.
She however, commended what she called “people-to-people relations” which were cordial.
She said her country wanted to see the completion of the new constitution and subsequent holding of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
“We had a productive meeting on the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Canada. Our government-to-government relations are not well but people-to-people relations are good,” she said.
Ms Stadelbauer reiterated Canada’s withdrawal from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. She however, refused to discuss the matter further.
“Yes I can confirm that we are no longer a member of the UNWTO and the foreign minister has covered that issue,” she said.