Afronline – The Voice Of Africa

Brussels – From aid recipient country to aid donor country. From a closed country, to a country devoted to a new diplomatic and economic offensive on a global scale. In less than a decade, Turkey has become the new protagonist of the international political scene. And Africa, like many other regions of the world, entered the orbit of the strategic interests of Ankara. The Turkish presence on the continent is summed up by a “code name”: TIKA, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency. In an interview to Afronline and to seven African newspapers, the Director of TIKA, Serdar Cam explains the Turkish model of cooperation and its challenges.

What is the place of Africa today in the Turkish diplomacy and international cooperation?

Turkey has traditionally maintained good relations with the African continent. In the context of our policy of opening up to Africa initiated in 1998. We consider Africa as an important region for Turkish foreign policy. In line with this objective, the Turkish government has commenced its develop­ment cooperation activities in Africa in 2004 within the framework of its “Open­ing Up to Africa” policy. This was followed by the declaration that 2005 was “the Year of Africa in Turkey,” Turkey pursues a dynamic and visionary foreign policy with a view to steering the developments in a positive direction, in a region where the impacts of global changes are greatest.

Within this context, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Program Coordination Office in Africa was first opened in Addis Ababa in 2005 and later in Khartoum and Dakar in the years of 2006 and 2007 respectively. TİKA offices support development projects in their respective regions. Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit” held with the participation of 49 African countries on 18-21 August 2008, in Istanbul, is considered as the beginning of a steady and sustainable cooperation process.

 According to the follow-up mechanism established by the “The Istanbul Declaration on Turkey-Africa Partnership: Cooperation and Solidarity for a Common Future” and “Cooperation Framework for Turkey-Africa Partnership” adopted in the First Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit in 2008, the meetings envisaged to be organized in the first five year cycle are a High-Level Officials Meeting at the end of 2010, a Ministerial Level Reviewing Conference in 2011, a second High-Level Officials Meeting in 2012 and the Second Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit in 2013.

 In addition to our observer status in the African Union (2005), Turkey has been accepted as a non-regional member of the African Development Bank (2008). Turkey is also a member of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Partners Forum (IGAD) (2008) and Turkish Embassy in Abuja is accredited to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (2005). Furthermore, Turkish Embassy in Dar-es-Salaam is accredited to the East African Community (EAC) (2010).

What are the major pillars and changes for your approach towards Africa, and Ethiopia? How do you evaluate your success up until now and what is your plan ahead?

Since 2002, the Turkish government has adopted a multi-dimensional, goal-oriented, balanced, and humanitarian foreign policy with a view to restoring and maintaining peace in the world, and particularly in Turkey’s neighborhood. It is also helping third-party countries through development cooperation as part of Turkey’s policy of eliminating regional problems and becoming a more influential and eminent actor in international politics. This shift of foreign policy stems from Turkey’s current proactive approach to today’s unpredictable international environment, in which issues like democratization, pluralism, and sustainable development are gaining priority and importance. Against this backdrop, TİKA stands out as the principal official aid agency, which functions as a corollary to Turkey’s foreign policy objectives through the implementation of projects and programs in developing countries. Thus, promoting Turkey’s visibility in the wider world. Through TİKA, Turkey responds to the immediate needs of the people in Africa, and I should say, sincerity is the magic word for our success.

What vision would give Turkey to its cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa countries as part of a win-win partnership, without making the mistakes of cooperation assistantship or a raw material trade cooperation without transfer of skills?

Turkey’s cooperation with the Sub-Saharan Africa can be traced back to June 1985 when Turkish State Plan­ning Organization worked out a comprehensive aid package worth $ 10 mil­lion, destined to the region. This project was implemented in Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Somali, and Sudan. The assistance was directed towards these countries’ institutional capacity building.

As Turkey used to be an aid recipient country, therefore, we know very well what is really needed by the partner countries. To avoid the aid recipient to become an aid- orphan, capacity building is the key, in other words, we are trying to teach the people how to catch the fish and to stand on its own feet. To this end, vocational training courses are organized in Turkey or in partner countries in specific sectors depending on the priorities of partner coun­tries. Besides capacity building activities, Turkey, through TİKA, undertakes many projects in building physical infrastructures for the provision of social services such as the construction of schools and hospitals.

Has your interest in Africa been influenced by the Chinese foray into the continent? Are you going to conduct business differently from the Chinese?

If you take a glimpse of the history of the Ottoman Empire, you will find that most of the Ottoman rulers were perceived as the protectors and saviors by people who had experienced subjugation under other regimes. This positive image of the Ottoman Turks can be traced to the Ghazi spirit and Islamic principles of humanism and tolerance. The Ottoman Turks made it possible for the coexistence of people of different religions, cultures and ethnicities while such coexistence was not seen anywhere else in Europe, because under the Sultan’s rule people were not identified and separated as belonging to different ethnicities. Turkish people believe that “Whoever sleeps full while his neighbor is hungry is not a believer”.

Current Turkish foreign policy, which has been shared by various governments in recent decades, is to extend the scope of Turkey’s involvement beyond its immediate region and proactively address other pressing global issues. Our policy towards Africa is not only based on economic and trade objectives but also incorporates a comprehensive approach which includes development of Africa through technical and project assistance in the fields such as fight against diseases, agricultural development, irrigation, energy and education and regular flow of humanitarian aid.  I can assure you that Turkey is determined to improve and develop our political, economic, commercial, and cultural interaction with the African countries.

What are the criteria that guide the creation of representations of TİKA in Africa?

Although at its inception TİKA was established to deliver ODA to former Soviet Union countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Balkans, the Turkish government gradually decided to broaden its vision of development cooperation by encouraging TİKA to extend its aid efforts to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries and Sub-Saharan African countries. Thus, to meet the development challenges faced by African countries, TİKA established in Sudan, Senegal, Kenya and Tunisia. And we are looking forward to opening more new offices in Africa in future.

There seems to be a policy reassertion by Turkey seeing a move to proactive foreign policy and development policies. But, some critics say that the approach lacks vision and strategic consolidation. What is your take on that and how is your agency trying to redefine turkey’s position in the global development policy arena?

As a leading regional country, Turkey has the responsibility to adopt a multi-dimensional, proactive foreign policy in reaching its national and international goals. Therefore, to extend the scope of Turkey’s involvement beyond its immediate region and proactively address other pressing global issues has become the new direction of Turkish foreign policy. TİKA, as an aid agency, has become one of the most effective arms of Turkey’s foreign policy. It is noteworthy that one of Turkey’s other priorities has been to foster good working relations with various international organizations to bol­ster its growing influence in global politics. Thus, through TİKA, Turkey has been providing a considerable amount of voluntary contributions to multilateral orga­nizations, such as the OECD, UNDP, UNIDO, and FAO to develop aid programs for developing countries.

Turkish businesses are becoming very active in African market, including Ethiopia. Most are taking part in long-term investments in the manufacturing sector. How much is the foreign policy and development strategy of your agency linked to this trend?

I guess this question has something to do with the private sector. Although I don’t think our development strategy has a direct linkage to this trend, our aid efforts may have contributed to the promotion of the investment climate in Africa, where as you have said that Turkish investment is increasing.

It is truth universally acknowledged that as long as you enjoy good relations with the countries concerned, bilateral commercial relations would certainly flourish. As for TİKA, we are there to contribute to bilateral friendly relations. Although we are not a business promoting agency, we would more than happy to develop programs for the private sector capacity development in Ethiopia.

But could you tell us what are the priority areas to which the investments have been made and why this choice?

I think this signals that investment climate in Africa is improving. This is an issue of business influence. In recent years, Turkey has been very competitive in different business sectors. For instance, last 30 years have witnessed Turkey’s huge success in construction sector. Of course, there are also many success stories in foreign trade. Our people works in a natural environment, where everybody gains by sticking to the win-win strategy. It is not a “one side’s gain is other side’s loss”, otherwise, it will be not ethical.

Is the observance of human rights going to influence your interaction with African countries – such as Zimbabwe?

We believe that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations should be observed by all members of UN. Meanwhile we also understand that a considerable number of aid recipient countries are facing human rights violations problems to various degrees. If we articulate this issue when dealing with any aid recipient, we would run the risk of punishing the people of that country in need of urgent help. Therefore, as an aid agency, our principle is no to interfere with the domestic policies of certain aid recipient, but concentrate on cooperation and coordination when official request of aid is conveyed to our government.

In Senegal, one feels more and more a great desire of people to visit your country. Trade increases, the exchanges between peoples and states as well. What are you doing to facilitate access of these persons and groups who have chosen to go to meet your country not as immigrants but for the trade development?

With an increasing rate, Turkey is hosting 22 million tourist and businessmen each year on average level. Among them, I am sure that many are from African continent.  I wish more and more African friends would have opportunities to visit Turkey.

We are happy to hear from the first hand source that people in Senegal feel closer to Turkey. This means that our policy towards Senegal is on right track. My colleagues in Turkish ministry of economy know better than I do on how to promote trade relations. As for TİKA’s part, developing more capacity building projects for private sector in Senegal may facilitate this process. Besides, ministry of culture and tourism are well positioned to organize cultural activities for mutual understanding.

In Europe, where your country is based, a debate on whether the entry of Turkey into the European Union is often raised. It speaks of the Armenian genocide to justify refusal expressed by some statesmen. Don’t you have the felling that your country would it be better to keep his identity as a transit between East and West, turning also to the African and Asian backgrounds?

To answer this question, one should take a look at what had happened in the First World War during which 2 million Christians and 5 million Muslim were displaced from where they used to live, and during migration hundreds of thousands of people were either killed or died from disease. Ottoman Armenians were among those who fell victim to this disaster brought about by the war. Ottoman Armenians were well known as the “Loyal Nation” who was the greatest beneficiaries of the opportunities offered by the Ottoman Empire to all industrious, efficient, honest and productive subjects of the non-Muslim communities. Being exempted from the military service and to a great extent from taxation, the Ottoman Armenians had the opportunity to make headway in trade, agriculture, craftsmanship and administration. Against this background, it is ridiculous to believe Armenians had been mistreated or persecuted by the Ottoman government not at the height of its power but at its weakest.

At the same time, we regret for Ottoman Armenians’ suffering from the First World War. We condemn those politicians who try to use this kind of allegations to block Turkey’s bid for EU membership. Just like what had been pointed by our Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Erdoğan that “Genocide allegations are to be resolved by historians, not by statesmen or parliaments.”

Nowadays, Turkey is pursuing a multi-dimensional, constructive, proactive, realistic and responsible foreign policy, therefore, the old fashioned view of depicting Turkey as a bridge between East and the West is no longer applicable. Furthermore, I think this perception would run the risk to relegate Turkey to an instrument for the promotion of the strategic interests of other countries.

As pointed out by our Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Davutoğlu, Turkey aims to achieve all EU membership conditions and become an influential EU member state by 2023. at the same time, it will continue to strive for regional integration, in the form of security and economic cooperation, seek to play an influential role in regional conflict resolution, participate in all global arenas and play a determining role in international organizations and become one of the top 10 largest economies in the world.

What are the ambitions of Turkey for accession to the European Union and what are the chances to see Turkey as a future EU Member State, while the EU is a partner in many African countries in development such as trade relations, on a continent where China is imposing its leadership?

From a historical perspective, Ottoman Turkey is a semi-European state with one-third of its territory in Europe, which means we had lived in Europe for more than 600 hundred years by 1918. In other words, we are no strangers to European culture.

Today, Turkey’s accession to the EU is our strategic choice and would be a natural outcome of comprehensive, centuries-long relations with European countries. We share a common destiny. We cherish and defend the same values and norms the EU is built on, such as democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

Turkey’s accession negotiations started in 2005. Since then 13 chapters out of 35 have been opened and one provisionally closed (Science and Research). Unfortunately, after the start of our accession negotiations, certain member states have changed their policies in contradiction with their own previous decisions and commitments. Despite all these hurdles, Turkey will continue its efforts for accession with determination.

Interview coordinated by Joshua Massarenti (Afronline.org), in collaboration with Getachew T. Alemu (Addis Fortune), Mame Aly Lonte (Sud Quotidien), Wilf Mbanga (The Zimbabwean), Ousseini Issa Djibo (Le Républicain), Alexis Kalambry (Les Echos du Mali), Léon Brathier (L’Autre Quotidien) and Momet Mathurin (Le Confident).

Official web site: www.tika.gov.tr