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Belgium–Turkey relations

Frae Wikipedia, the free beuk o knawledge

Belgian–Turkis relations are foreign relations atween Belgium an Turkey. Belgium haes an embassy in Ankara, a consulate–general in Istanbul an twa consulates in Antalya an İzmir.[1] Turkey haes an embassy in Brussels an a consulate–general in Antwerp.

History

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Relations atween the twa countries stairtit in 1837 wi the recognition o independent Belgium bi the Ottoman Empire. Diplomatic relations wur established in 1848.[2]

Poleetical relations

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Turkey an Belgium are baith members o the Cooncil o Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organization (WTO) an the Union for the Mediterranean. An aw Belgium is a European Union member an Turkey is a candidate.

The approximately 230,000 Turkis citizens livin in Belgium consteetute an important aspect in Turkey's relations w Belgium.[3][4] Thay come predominantly frae the Emirdağ district, locatit in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.

In Mairch 2019, the Turkis foreign meenistry summoned the Belgian ambassador, Michel Malherbe, an relayed Turkey’s unease efter a Belgian coort blockit the prosecution o some 30 fowk wi alleged links tae the Kurdistan Wirkers’ Pairty (PKK).[5]

Belgium condemned the 2019 Turkis offencive intae north-eastren Sirie an called on Turkey tae halt it immediately.[6] The Belgian govrenment later decidit tae implement an airms embargo against Turkey.[7]

Economic relations

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Trade volume atween Turkey an Belgium haes increased remerkably ower the years an reached € 3 billion.[8] In 2006, Belgian exports tae Turkey increased by 9,4% (€ 1,88 billion), whereas Turkis exports tae Belgium increased 6,8% (€ 1,06 billion) comparing to 2005.[8] Belgium is the seventeenth lairgesr trade partner o Turkey.[9]

The Turkis–Belgian Business Cooncil, an organisations wi seemilar aims, give priority tae promotin commercial linkages. This Cooncil wis established in 1990.[10] Small and medium size businesses play an important role in the economies of Turkey and Belgium.[8]

Thare are mair nor 200 Belgian firms operatin in Turkey. The value o Belgian investments in Turkey is aroond € 300 million. On the ither haund, the investment o Turkish companies in Belgium haes exceeded € 1 billion.[8]

In 2008, mair nor 583,409 Belgian tourists veesitit Turkey.[9]

Guest Host Place of visit Date of visit Reference
Prime Minister Abdullah Gül Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt Brussels February 17, 2003 [11]
Prime Meenister Guy Verhofstadt Prime Meenister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ankara and Istanbul November 2–4, 2003 [2]
President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Herman De Croo Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey Bülent Arınç Grand Naitional Assembly o Turkey, Ankara November 28–December 1, 2004 [2]
Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel De Gucht Meenister o Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gül Ankara October 30–31, 2006 [2]
President Abdullah Gül King Albert II Brussels March 25–27, 2009 [12]
Prime Meenister Yves Leterme Prime Meenister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ankara December 29–30, 2009 [13]

References

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  1. Belgian Foreign Policy: Bilateral relations / Southeast Europe / Turkey
  2. a b c d Turkey´s Political Relations with Belgium / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  3. King Baudouin Foundation. "Belgian-Turks A Bridge or a Breach between Turkey and the European Union?" (PDF). Archived frae the original (PDF) on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  4. King Baudouin Foundation. "Turkish communities and the EU" (PDF). Archived frae the original (PDF) on 25 Februar 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  5. Tulay Karadeniz and Philip Blenkinsop (March 11, 2019), Turkish foreign ministry summons Belgium's ambassador in Ankara Reuters.
  6. "Didier Reynders condemns the Turkish operation in Northeast Syria". Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (in Inglis). 9 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  7. Brzozowski, Alexandra (14 October 2019). "EU condemns Turkey's military action, stops short of common arms embargo". www.euractiv.com (in Inglis). Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  8. a b c d Turkey´s Commercial and Economic Relations with Belgium / Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  9. a b Türkiye–Belçika Ticari ve Ekonomik İlişkileri / T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı (in Turkis)
  10. "Turkish - Belgian Business Council", Turkey-Now, accessed 23 July 2009.
  11. Belçika Başbakanı Abdullah Gül'ün Gönlünü Aldı Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Turkis)
  12. "President Gül Meets King Albert II of Belgium". Archived frae the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 22 Julie 2009. Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Belgian Prime Minister Leterme arrives in Turkey, Zaman, December 29, 2009

Freemit airtins

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