Davutoğlu was speaking at a joint press conference following talks with his visiting Romanian counterpart, Cristian Diaconescu. Turkey and Romania have interests in common in many geographical zones, and the Black Sea is one of them, Davutoğlu said, adding that the two countries have been working hard to deepen all kinds of economic relations between the Black Sea region's countries.
Davutoğlu cited transportation projects concerning the Black Sea as an important element for economically strengthening the region, underlining that a diversity of transportation routes would help rebuild an important commercial bridge between the Middle East and the Balkans as well as between Europe and Asia.
The Balkans is another region in which Turkey and Romania have a common interest, Davutoğlu said, pointing out that Turkey has recently assumed term presidency of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and has been planning to host an informal ministerial meeting of the SEECP in October.
Davutoğlu also announced that Turkey and Romania have agreed on providing mutual visa facilities for each other's citizens, in a bid to strengthen the already friendly relations between Turkish and Romanian people.
“We have been considering significant simplifications to visas to cement relations between Turkey and Romania and for facilitating mutual relations between Turkish and Romanian people,” Davutoğlu said, voicing Turkey's eagerness to host more Romanian citizens. “Romania is also displaying an extremely positive attitude towards these issues. God willing, in the upcoming period, Turkish and Romanian people will be much closer to each other and will be able to travel under easier conditions to each other's countries,” Davutoğlu added.
While thanking Davutoğlu for the planned revisions, Diaconescu said Romania would also consider “some flexibility” for Turks visiting Romania.
Diaconescu stated that Turkey and Romania would engage in “a strategic cooperation,” and the process regarding this cooperation would commence soon. The strategic dialogue between the two countries will include an energy aspect, the Romanian minister said, while reiterating his country's support for Turkey's EU membership process.
Davutoğlu, meanwhile, noted that Energy Minister Taner Yıldız and the state minister responsible for foreign trade will visit Romania in the second half of September as part of the efforts to improve bilateral economic and political relations.
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