Gül: Non-colonialist past an asset for Turkey in Africa

Gül was speaking with Turkish journalists accompanying him during an official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Today, Turkey has relationships with various countries in different geographical areas, Gül noted late on Monday. Yet, among these areas, Turkey attaches special importance to its relations with African countries, he added.

Turkey’s initiative for improving its relations with African countries has both humanitarian and economic aspects, Gül said.

The reason behind African countries’ interest and confidence in Turkey is the fact that Turkey has never been a colonial country and that it has approached the continent with humanitarian responsibility.

The president cited Turkey’s recent donation of 35 tons of medical supplies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adding that he had also brought some humanitarian aid to the country on his visit.

While northern countries have been living in wealth, African people have been suffering from poverty, Gül said. “If you are a large state, you have to think about this. If you are a large state, you have to deal with climate, hunger and other issues in the world, not only with [issues of] your own country.”

Gül was reminded of the fact that African students in the Şafak Turkish School based in Kinshasa, which he visited earlier in the day, sang the Turkish national anthem, and was invited to comment on this.

“This is not something done in the spirit of colonialism or with that mentality. It would be best to ask the students [at the school] about the integration there. In colonialism, you don’t have a spirit of brotherhood, but you do have interests,” Gül replied.

On Monday evening the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, hosted a dinner in Gül’s honor at the presidential palace.

“As it did yesterday, Turkey will continue being there tomorrow for the African people and sharing its experience and technology,” Gül said in a speech delivered at the dinner.

“Turkey, at the same time, will continue fulfilling its responsibility in the international arena to not allow the recurrence of diseases such as racism, intolerance and xenophobia which in the past have led to immense grief in Africa. We know that we have been elected to the [non-permanent] membership of the UN Security Council thanks to strong support from our African friends. We will continue with our duty [at the Security Council] with this awareness until the end of our term,” Gül added, referring to Turkey’s ongoing non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for 2009-2010.

On Tuesday, Gül departed for Yaoundé, Cameroon, on the second leg of his Africa tour, after he had gathered with a group of Turkish citizens living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as with members of the Turkish security forces who are in the country under the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).