Turkey's PM in Brazil as part of Latin America tour

Erdogan is being accompanied by State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, state ministers Zafer Caglayan and Mehmet Aydin, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, Culture & Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay as well as many businessmen and journalists.

Erdogan will attend inauguration ceremony of Turkey's Consulate General in Sao Paulo, will meet Turkish citizens living in the city, open a photograph exhibition titled, "Gates of Paradise" and visit Embraer, the third biggest aircraft factory of the world.

Erdogan will attend Turkey-Brazil Business Forum meeting and address businessmen. Erdogan will attend third forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Rio de Janeiro on May 28 and 29, 2010.

These visits will be the the first of its kind in prime ministerial level. The visits aim to deepen Turkey's developing cooperation opportunities with the countries in Latin America
and the Caribbeans.

Erdogan is scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and exchange views on international and regional matters. Two countries are expected to sign several agreements during the prime minister's visit. Premier Erdogan will meet Michel Elias Temer, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, and formally inaugurate Turkey's Consulate General in Sao Paulo.

Erdogan is also expected visit Brazilian Oil Company PetroBras, which carries out joint oil research studies with Turkey's TPAO in the Black Sea. The Turkish prime minister will proceed to Rio de Janeiro on May 27 to attend Third Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations which will take place on May 28-29.

Erdogan will address the opening of the forum and attend lunch which will be hosted by Brazilian President Silva. He will proceed from Brazil to Argentina where 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations will be celebrated.

On May 31, Erdogan will meet Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and sign agreements on air transportation and cooperation in customs agreements. On June 1, Erdogan will proceed to Chile and meet President Sebastian Pinera. The two leaders are expected to take up bilateral economic and commercial relations within the scope of Free Trade Agreement signed in July 2009. Erdogan will return to Turkey on June 2.


/World Bulletin/