Excellencies, ladies, and Gentlemen,
It’s a great honour and privilege to welcome you all to Villa Somalia, the Presidential Office of the nation tonight to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the strengthening of bilateral relations between Somalia and Turkey.
I want to recognise our honourable and distinguished guests from Turkey who are with us tonight. Welcome to Somalia, your second home. Soo Dhawaadda and Hoş Geldiniz (Hosh Geldiniz).
Today, the 19th of August 2021 marks the 10th year anniversary when H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a delegation made up of his honourable ministers made the historic visit to Somalia at the height of a humanitarian crisis. At a truly challenging time in Somalia’s history when there was much internationally publicised suffering by our people, president Erdoğan initiated the renewed partnership and friendship between the brotherly Government and peoples of Somalia and Turkey which brought much-needed relief. For this, we are especially grateful and proudly celebrate the inaugural Somali-Turkish day tonight.
Excellencies, ladies, and Gentlemen,
Somali-Turkish relations are truly historic dating back to the Ottoman period. Today, our strong diplomatic relations have created new opportunities for collaboration and partnership in all areas of mutual benefit, including trade, security, humanitarian affairs and cultural exchange. This strong relationship has helped Somalia’s development by connecting it to the world through the historic arrival of Turkish Airlines.
The relationship has also helped to build some of the essential infrastructures like roads in Somalia. Overall, our strong relations have helped to strengthen Somalia’s economy and human capital with the Turkish Government’s support towards the improvement of Somalia’s health and education sector as well as investment in the Mogadishu port and airport. This strategic investment, born out of the bonds of friendship, mutual respect, trust, and strong relations between our two nations, is truly paying dividends for our two sides.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Alongside the common opportunities I have already mentioned, there are global challenges which both Somalia and Turkey face. Among the most important of these are climate change, the response to the COVID-19 global health pandemic and the need to sustainably recover economically from this health disaster.
The Somali people understand the difficulties that have accompanied climate change and we share the pain of our Turkish brothers and sisters whose lives have been affected simultaneously by wildfires and floods. I am confident that with the dedicated leadership of H.E. president Erdogan and the Turkish people’s resilience, patience, and hard work, both the regions and affected lives will be rebuilt.
On COVID-19 response and economic recovery, it is crucial that our two governments and people continue to strengthen our bilateral and people to people relations. This is what is supporting ever-increasing trade, investment, and medical knowledge exchange and treatment in Somalia and Turkey. While both our governments are committed to sincerely advancing our solid relations, it is the clear positive engagement between our two peoples that gives me the most hope for an even stronger and durable Somalia-Turkey relation built on the firm foundations of respect, interdependence, and common endeavour.
I would like to conclude by saying: Long live Somalia. Long live Turkey. Long live our strong partnership!
Thank you.
