AMBASSADOR GUINOMLA MEETS WITH TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER  

19 March 2007 – Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim A. Guinomla reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs about his meeting with the Turkish Minister of National Defense, M. Vecdi Gonul, on 22 February 2007 to improve bilateral ties between the Philippines and Turkey .  

Ambassador Guinomla presented a briefing to Minister Gonul, head of the Turkish delegation of the RP-Turkey Joint Economic Commission, on the current economic developments in the Philippines and updates on the Embassy’s efforts to convene the second meeting of the Commission in the spring.  

“Philippine exports to Turkey doubled at the end of last year although the figure remains modest,” Ambassador Guinomla told Minister Gonul. The two officials agreed that more efforts should be carried out to increase bilateral trade. Investment opportunities in the Philippines , particularly in Mindanao , were also discussed, and the Ambassador encouraged Turkish businessmen to explore on business prospects in the area.  

The sustained development and growth of southern Philippines , Ambassador Guinomla added, is a top priority of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as “a strategy to elevate the economic conditions of the people in the region to catch up with developments elsewhere in the country.”  

The Philippines and Turkey could also cooperate in the area of combating terrorism, where the Philippines had already undertaken measures.   

Minister Gonul informed the Ambassador on the draft agreements on defense industry and military cooperation which the government of Turkey had submitted for consideration. He added that Turkey “offers opportunities for military and counterterrorism trainings for foreign participants” and invited the Ambassador to visit the military and air force facilities of Turkey where modern military equipment such as fighter jets (F-16s) are produced. END 

/jay

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