Argentina–Turkey relations
Encyclopedia
Argentina–Turkey relations are foreign relations between Argentina
and Turkey
. Argentina has an embassy in Ankara
and Turkey has an embassy in Buenos Aires
. Both countries are full members of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
. Turkey's staunch support for fellow NATO member United Kingdom
during the Falklands War
and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by the Argentine parliament have soured relations between the two countries.
were Turkey gave full support to the United Kingdom. On 24 April 2007, the Argentine Parliament signed into law a bill titled "The Action Day for Tolerance and Respect between Peoples for the Memory of Armenian Genocide", thus recognising the Armenian Genocide despite Turkish international claims that it cannot be classified as such
. Turkey deplored and rejected the bill and in an official statement stated that it was "unethical and far from being serious". Turkish Ambassador in Buenos Aires Hayri Hayret Yalav was summoned for consultations at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara to review bilateral relations with Argentina.
Prior to the decision to pass the April 2007 bill which was taken in January of the same year, relations were generally cordial although not especially strong. The Turkish Daily News has written that the two nations mostly acted together at the UN
. The Daily News opined that the Turkish Embassy in Buenos Aires has not been very effective, resulting in a missed opportunity to further improve relations and access to the rest of Latin America. The Argentina-Turkey Friendship Foundation (ATFF), an NGO operating in Argentina, plays a large role, assisting with cultural exchange by running classes on Turkish cooking and the Turkish language, and by sometimes handing out food to the poor.
On 30 May 2010, Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled a visit to Argentina after authorities there scrapped a plan to unveil a monument of Turkey's founder, bowing to pressure by ethnic Armenians.
He had a change of heart after the autonomous authorities at Buenos Aires withdrew permission for the inauguration of a monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, "as a result of interference by Armenian circles hostile to Turkey", a foreign ministry statement said.
Kirchner called Erdogan to say that "our reaction is rightful" but explained that under Argentine law, the central government was unable to reverse the decision of the local authorities.
Erdogan responded that "this attitude is unacceptable, whatever the reason is, and cancelled the visit," the statement added. Turkey expects Argentina "to take steps as soon as possible to make up for the shadow that has been cast on bilateral relations".
cycle independence. Argentina agreed to study the feasibility of building a 300 MWe PWR designed by Empresa Nuclear Argentina de Centrales. Other fuel cycle activities were also explored.
In October 1990, Turkish companies Sezai Turkes-Fevzi Akkaya and TEK formed a joint engineering agreement with Argentine agencies Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica and Investigaciones Aplicadas to develop two CAREM-25 nuclear reactors, one in each country, with construction to begin in 1991 in Argentina and in 1992 in Turkey. Former Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal
and Argentine President Carlos Menem
personally negotiated the deal. However, the arrangement was cancelled a year later due to international pressure because of proliferation
concerns.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Argentina has an embassy in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
and Turkey has an embassy in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. Both countries are full members of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The organization officially commenced on January 1, 1995 under the Marrakech Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , which commenced in 1948...
. Turkey's staunch support for fellow NATO member United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
by the Argentine parliament have soured relations between the two countries.
History and diplomatic incidents
Relations between the two countries became sour during the Falklands WarFalklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
were Turkey gave full support to the United Kingdom. On 24 April 2007, the Argentine Parliament signed into law a bill titled "The Action Day for Tolerance and Respect between Peoples for the Memory of Armenian Genocide", thus recognising the Armenian Genocide despite Turkish international claims that it cannot be classified as such
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
. Turkey deplored and rejected the bill and in an official statement stated that it was "unethical and far from being serious". Turkish Ambassador in Buenos Aires Hayri Hayret Yalav was summoned for consultations at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara to review bilateral relations with Argentina.
Prior to the decision to pass the April 2007 bill which was taken in January of the same year, relations were generally cordial although not especially strong. The Turkish Daily News has written that the two nations mostly acted together at the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. The Daily News opined that the Turkish Embassy in Buenos Aires has not been very effective, resulting in a missed opportunity to further improve relations and access to the rest of Latin America. The Argentina-Turkey Friendship Foundation (ATFF), an NGO operating in Argentina, plays a large role, assisting with cultural exchange by running classes on Turkish cooking and the Turkish language, and by sometimes handing out food to the poor.
On 30 May 2010, Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled a visit to Argentina after authorities there scrapped a plan to unveil a monument of Turkey's founder, bowing to pressure by ethnic Armenians.
He had a change of heart after the autonomous authorities at Buenos Aires withdrew permission for the inauguration of a monument of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, "as a result of interference by Armenian circles hostile to Turkey", a foreign ministry statement said.
Kirchner called Erdogan to say that "our reaction is rightful" but explained that under Argentine law, the central government was unable to reverse the decision of the local authorities.
Erdogan responded that "this attitude is unacceptable, whatever the reason is, and cancelled the visit," the statement added. Turkey expects Argentina "to take steps as soon as possible to make up for the shadow that has been cast on bilateral relations".
Economic links
Turkey and Argentina have signed an Economic and Commercial Cooperation Agreement. As of 2008, Turkish exports to Argentina stand at $35 million, while Argentine exports to Turkey stand at $221 million. Argentina is Turkey's third biggest economic partner in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico.Nuclear cooperation
On 3 May 1988, Argentina and Turkey signed a 15-year nuclear cooperation agreement, following Turkey's drive for nuclear fuelNuclear fuel
Nuclear fuel is a material that can be 'consumed' by fission or fusion to derive nuclear energy. Nuclear fuels are the most dense sources of energy available...
cycle independence. Argentina agreed to study the feasibility of building a 300 MWe PWR designed by Empresa Nuclear Argentina de Centrales. Other fuel cycle activities were also explored.
In October 1990, Turkish companies Sezai Turkes-Fevzi Akkaya and TEK formed a joint engineering agreement with Argentine agencies Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica and Investigaciones Aplicadas to develop two CAREM-25 nuclear reactors, one in each country, with construction to begin in 1991 in Argentina and in 1992 in Turkey. Former Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal
Turgut Özal
Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
and Argentine President Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
personally negotiated the deal. However, the arrangement was cancelled a year later due to international pressure because of proliferation
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
concerns.
Visits
| Guest | Host | Place of visit | Date of visit |
|---|---|---|---|
 PresidentPresident of Argentina The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the... Carlos Menem Carlos Menem Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:... |
 PresidentPresident of Turkey The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions... Turgut Özal Turgut Özal Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:... |
Çankaya Köşkü Çankaya Köskü Çankaya Köşkü or Çankaya Köşk is the official residence of the President of Turkey. It is located in the Çankaya district of Ankara, which lends its name to the palace. The name is sometimes used as a metonymy for the current president. The Çankaya Presidential Compound stretches over of land... , Ankara Ankara Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million.... |
1992 |
| President President of Turkey The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions... Süleyman Demirel Süleyman Demirel Sami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province... |
President President of Argentina The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the... Carlos Menem Carlos Menem Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:... |
Casa Rosada Casa Rosada La Casa Rosada is the official seat of the executive branch of the government of Argentina, and of the offices of the President. The President normally lives at the Quinta de Olivos, a compound in Olivos, Buenos Aires Province. Its characteristic color is pink, and is considered one of the most... , Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent... |
April, 1995 |
| President President of Argentina The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the... Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner , commonly known as Cristina Fernández or Cristina Kirchner is the 55th and current President of Argentina and the widow of former President Néstor Kirchner. She is Argentina's first elected female president, and the second female president ever to serve... |
President President of Turkey The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions... Abdullah Gül Abdullah Gül Dr. Abdullah Gül, GCB is the 11th and current President of the Republic of Turkey, serving in that office since 28 August 2007. He previously served for four months as Prime Minister from 2002-03, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2003-07.... |
Ankara Ankara Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million.... and Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... |
January 20–21, 2011 |