05 Dec 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has hailed good relations that exist between Botswana and Turkey.

The good relations, he said, resulted in Turkey opening up a market for Botswana’s diamonds.

President Masisi made the sentiments when the outgoing Turkish ambassador, Ms Meltem Buyukkarakas, paid a courtesy call on him at the Office of the President on Friday.

He expressed hope that Turkey would continue assisting Botswana to realise its aspiration of establishing a knowledge-based economy.

Ms Buyukkaraka’s tenure, President Masisi said, had been valuable in reinforcing the bilateral relations between the two nations.

For her part, Ms Buyukkarakas applauded Botswana for upholding the principles of peace and security as witnessed by the contribution to the ongoing SADC peacekeeping mission in Mozambique.

Though having lost some members of the BDF at the peacekeeping mission, Ms Buyukkarakas said the country’s solidarity with other nations was impressive. 

She also commended the country’s value of believing in peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Ms Buyukkarakas said the two nations’ relations were cordial and constructive, therefore she was hopeful that new channels of communication would open up.

She said her tenure was of great experience to her personally and in the professional fold despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered the achievement of some projects by the two countries.

As for her mandate, Ms Buyukkarakas said she was primarily focused on establishing strong ties between the two countries in the field of education. 

She said development of education was their priority as illustrated through scholarships offered to Batswana students.

Ms Buyukkarakas said on the priority list was to facilitate the business community from the two countries to interact through a business council platform.  Ends