Türkiye’s ambassador to Sudan, Fatih Yildiz, in a dialogue that talks about the decline in Turkish Airlines at Khartoum Airport

Dialogue- Tariq Sharif Sati- Was it a coincidence that the Turkish ambassador to Sudan, Fateh Yildiz, had worked in Iraq during the war, and he is now a witness to the battle of dignity in Sudan.

Hawass magazine held a “dialogue with the ambassador who opened the doors of his embassy in Port Sudan, and we received a welcome and answered” Hawas “questions with understanding, depth and vision.

He presented his perceptions for the stage of reconstruction and drawing a map of trade relations between Türkiye and Sudan .. In response to a question about the Turkish embassy communicating with Turkish universities graduates from the Sudanese.

*Turkish Agriculture Bank is preparing to open its doors from Port Sudan?

With regard to economic relations between Turkey and Sudan, one of the most important visions is the resumption of the work of the banking system again, for this we sought the return of the Turkish Bank of Agriculture, which was established in the year 2020, to Sudan .. And soon, God willing, its branch will open in the city of Port Sudan, and originally the bank was present in the city of Khartoum and stopped with the war, but after the reconstruction of Khartoum, the main center of the Zaraqat Bank will return to Khartoum, and it will remain a branch Port Sudan works. The bank provides the services of opening current accounts for institutions, individuals and commercial financing, and it has branches in a number of countries in the world.

*With regard to financial transfers between Sudan and Turkey … there are still obstacles?

The economic sanctions imposed on Sudan certainly hinder the movement of these transfers, but despite this, the transfers are continuing between Turkey and Sudan, and there is a Turkish bank that transforms through it that deals with many Sudanese banks, and the transfers are made by an intermediary bank in a third country due to the sanctions imposed on Sudan, but we are continuing.

*With regard to the file of the reconstruction of Sudan .. What can Türkiye offer in this file?

I think the most important thing now is to achieve stability and end the war, and the legitimate government from Port Sudan to Khartoum.

I see that the infrastructure is not the only one that needs reconstruction, but the economy also needs to be reconstruction. Khartoum is the beating heart of Sudan and needs the reconstruction in order to return to it, for example, the industrial aspect. We in Turkey are strong in this aspect and we can contribute to the reconstruction, and certainly the industrial sector is greatly affected in Khartoum and needs to be reconstructed.

*Can Turkish companies contribute to reconstruction?

I was an ambassador to Turkey in Baghdad after the Americans left Iraq, and the Turks played a major role in the reconstruction of Iraq from factories to hotels. And you visited Turkey and stood on the architectural development in it from the shopping and airport centers, there is nothing to prevent these things be present in Sudan .. The truth of Sudan did not take the attention it deserves, and the world is now talking about the reconstruction of Gaza and the reconstruction of Syria, and there is no talk about Sudan even though it has been damaged a lot.

The international community must support the reconstruction file in Sudan, and Turkey will be beside Sudan in order to take the attention it deserves and stands on its legs.

*What is your point of view on the reconstruction file from the reality of your experience in Iraq as an ambassador to Turkey during the period and reconstruction of the Americans?

The reconstruction project is not only a project for the government, but it must find support from society. There is an important aspect, which is planning, and Turkey as a friendly country for Sudan that can contribute to the planning aspect, and works a joint work with Sudan in this file. What distinguishes Sudan is that it is a country that combines the richness of human and natural resources, for example there are rich countries in the aspect of natural resources but lack human resources, and vice versa there are rich countries in human resources but they lack natural resources .. But Sudan brings together the two, which is an ancient country and has its influence, and African countries were sending their students to study, and the reconstruction file needs to stand beside him like Turkey, and Sudan needs to be reconstructed from the north And the south, the east and the west.

*On the humanitarian side .. Türkiye contributed to the establishment of Beniala Hospital through (TIKA) .. Can the organization create hospitals in other cities similar to this model?

We are proud of Turkey’s completion of this project, and more proud because the work was made in partnership with the Sudanese side, and the truth of the desire is available to accomplish hospitals in other cities in the future from (TICA), but the organization is currently focusing on providing aid to Suakin Hospital, whether they are medical devices or equipment, but in the future hospitals can be created in other regions.

*Also on the aspect of humanitarian work, Türkiye provided relief aid to Sudan (three planes)?

These planes came at a time when the world was busy in Gaza and the humanitarian situation in them, but we nevertheless did not forget Sudan, and the aid that was provided, in addition to the planes, two ships and six thousand tons of relief materials … and the fact that Türkiye’s standing beside friends is an authentic principle. We hope that Sudan will stand on its feet, and there will be no need for Turkish aid.

*Turkish businessmen investing in Sudan and their business stopped .. After the war, when will they return to work with it?

One of the important things in activating economic relations between Turkey and Sudan is the presence of Turkish businessmen in Sudan, and the presence of Sudanese businessmen in Turkey, and for Turkish businessmen now they have begun to return to Sudan, but certainly their return will be completely after the war will be completely ended.

*Sudanese businessmen and facilitate their visa to travel to Türkiye?

There are a number of Sudanese businessmen and investors in Turkey, some of whom have real estate in Turkey and run business, and we encourage this trend and encourage Sudanese businessmen visits to Turkey, and we want them to transfer experiences in the investment field to their country so that Sudan benefits from that.

For visa, currently the treatment visa, student and visa of Business.

*Trade exchange between Sudan and Turkey, can it include the field of gold?

Gold trade we see seriously without entering into competition with any other country, and our goal is not to buy and sell gold, it is not a trade for us, but rather a way to complete some business.

*There is a protocol with the Sudanese Ministry of Health to treat (100) Sudanese patients annually in Türkiye .. Can the number be increased?

The Sudanese Ministry of Health seeks to increase the number of beneficiaries of the grant, and on our part as an embassy we also seek to increase the number, and we informed Ankara of this, and we also send them the message through the magazine “Hawas”, and we believe that Sudan in this situation needs to increase these opportunities.

*The Turkish ship contributes to providing electricity to the city of Port Sudan?

When I worked as an ambassador in Baghdad, the same ship was providing electricity for the city of Mosul, the presence of the ship now in Port Sudan, and it plays a major role in providing electricity to the city.

*Can Türkiye help in the electricity sector?

We have a previous cooperation with Sudan in the field of electricity in several cities, including Nyala, and this field is one of the areas that find rapid intervention from Turkey, and the desire enthusiasm is available to transfer all Turkish experiences to Sudan in electricity, infrastructure and various fields.

*In tourism in particular, Türkiye is very advanced and hosted (50) million tourists .. Is the transfer of the Turkish experience in this field lies to the city of Port Sudan?

Port Sudan is a tourist city, but it lacks infrastructure, and Turkey is ready to transfer its advanced experiences in the field of tourism, services and hotel to Port Sudan.

*When does Turkish Airlines return to Port Sudan?

We are working on the return of Turkish Airlines to the city of Port Sudan as soon as possible, and certainly this contributes to strengthening communication between Turkey and Sudan, but now talking about Khartoum and its reconstruction .. God willing, the Turkish Airlines will be the first plane to land at Khartoum Airport after its reconstruction and restart.

*A number of Sudanese students graduated from Turkish universities through scholarships .. Is the embassy in contact with them?

Turkish scholarships are very international and distinctive, and a number of Sudanese youth have also benefited from there those who studied through these grants and they are older than me now and exceeded (60 years), and we are in contact with them, whether individuals or through the Graduate Association.

*A final question .. Why is there no commercial annex at the Turkish embassy in Sudan?

Since my arrival Port Sudan and I have been working on this, there is a commercial attachment that is very important and develops trade relations between Türkiye and Sudan, and as you preferred, the next stage needs the presence of the commercial attaché.

Source Hawas Magazine