Belgium–Turkey relations

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]

Visits

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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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