Fahrettin Altun, President of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, said, “Today’s Turkey is a playmaker not only within its own borders but also on the regional and global level, a country that disrupts the games that are tried to be created against it and takes an active role in solving problems and crises.”
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Turkey-Austria Friendship Treaty, Altun was published in Die Presse, one of Austria’s leading newspapers, with the title “The Legacy of a Hundred Years: On Turkey – Austria Relations”.
In his article, Altun stated that they are honored to mark the centenary of the Friendship Treaty, which forms a historical bridge between Turkey and Austria and symbolizes the deep ties between the two nations, and said: “This treaty, signed 100 years ago, is not only an expression of the strong relations between the two countries, but also an important threshold for the two societies to get to know each other more closely and fuse with each other. As a matter of fact, in the intervening period, the two countries have cooperated in many fields such as trade, culture-arts and education based on mutual respect and understanding.”
Emphasizing that the political relations of the two countries have been strengthened and consolidated over the years with mutual high-level visits and strategic meetings, Altun stated that the strengthening of these relations has enabled the two countries to act jointly on the global stage and take a joint position on many issues.
Referring to the economic relations between the countries, Altun said, “Our total trade volume has reached approximately 4 billion dollars. Within the framework of the vision put forward by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we expect this trade volume to exceed 5 billion dollars in the short term.”
Pointing out that relations in the fields of culture, art and tourism have also shown a remarkable development, Altun said, “The cooperation between our countries and the friendship they bring with them is undoubtedly our most privileged feature in the global system we are currently in.”
Altun emphasized that human rights and dignity are “universal values” that Turkey cherishes and brings up on international platforms at every opportunity, and continued as follows:
“Acting with this awareness, Turkey’s search for peaceful solutions in the context of the Gaza crisis, which has occupied the world agenda since October 7, and its approach supporting a two-state solution within the framework of UN parameters are important steps towards achieving lasting peace in the region. Today’s Turkey is a playmaker not only within its own borders but also on the regional and global level, a country that disrupts the games that are tried to be created against it and takes an active role in solving problems and crises.”
“We firmly believe that Turkey-Austria relations will continue to strengthen”
Altun stated that Turkey’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis also centered on the idea of protecting regional stability and peace, and noted the following:
“Turkey, which has a strategic position in the Black Sea and NATO membership, has played a decisive role in this crisis. Humanitarian initiatives, particularly through the grain corridor, have demonstrated Turkey’s leadership in mitigating the global food security challenges caused by the war. These efforts underline Turkey’s proactive approach to regional and global challenges.
As two countries that are expected to actively contribute to global peace, we are confident that Turkey-Austria relations will continue to strengthen in the future. Turkey will continue on its path as a strong advocate of peace, stability and cooperation and will contribute to building a better future for both our country and the world in every step to be taken. I wish our 100 years of friendship and cooperation will continue to increase in the future.”
