Istanbul to host the Africa/Turkey Ministerial Review Conference
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 13, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- On 16 December 2011, the Africa/Turkey Ministerial Review Conference will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, in line with the Follow-up Mechanism of the Istanbul Declaration on “Africa – Turkey Partnership”. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union, Mr. Pastor Miche Ondo Bile (Equatorial Guinea) and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Jean Ping will co-chair the Conference.
The conference that will be attended by representative of African countries and Turkey, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Representatives of the African Union Commission, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordination Agency, and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as well as observers from various international and regional organizations, will enable the two sides to review and discuss the Africa-Turkish Partnership and the future perspectives. This will include the review of the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action – Turkey-Africa approved in November 2010.
The conference will, as well deliberate on the preparation of the 2nd Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit. The First Africa – Turkey Cooperation Summit, held in Istanbul in August 2008, confirmed the commitment of Heads of State and Government from both sides to work towards strengthening the various dimensions of the strategic partnership.
A High Level Preparatory Meeting that will take place on 15 December will precede the ministerial conference to consider the identified priority projects, the draft Joint Communiqué and the agenda of the Ministerial Review Conference.
The Deputy Undersecretary of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives Committee and a Representative of the African Union Commission will address the preparatory meeting.
A Joint Press Conference chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, the Chairperson of AU Executive Council of the African Union and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, will be held at the end of the Conference (16 December 2011 at 18:45 – 19:15 hours at the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Hotel on.
The accreditation of the international press members will be made through the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information. The announcement concerning the accreditation will be made by the aforementioned General Directorate and through the Press Accreditations Desk, which will be opened at the Çırağan Palace Hotel on 16 December 2011.
The accredited members of the press will have access to the event. A Press Center will be available during the meeting at the “Çırağan Palace Hotel” giving communication, documentation and services to the representative of the media. A Yellow Badge will be given to Members of the Press selected by Turkish Directorate of Press and Information.