President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela participated in the Venezuela-Turkey Business Forum.

Addressing Venezuelan and Turkish businessmen, President Erdoğan said: "We do not approve of unilateral sanctions and trade-restrictive measures. They are very wrong. We believe these practices will further deepen the instabilities. Bitter experiences of the past have proven that political issues cannot be resolved by blanket punishment of a people."

"Since this is the first Presidential visit from Turkiye to Venezuela, it is of historic importance. I hope this gathering will contribute to developing the economic and commercial relations between Turkiye and Venezuela," President Erdoğan said.

Highlighting the ties of friendship and solidarity between Turkiye and Venezuela, President Erdoğan said: "We see Venezuela as our country's partner in Latin America and the Caribbean."

"And we highly value our cooperation and friendship. Our economic relations with Venezuela have a strong potential. We should make the best of this potential. We work to diversify and deepen our cooperation with Venezuela in all areas on the basis of win-win."

"We will be in close contact with President Maduro not only about the economy but also about all problems affecting our region and the world," President Erdoğan said.

"President Maduro gave a strong message to the world by attending the OIC Summit on Al Quds as the term president of the Non-Aligned Movement."

"The deplorable incident which took place on August 5 was a cowardly attack against President Maduro and the Venezuelan people's sovereign will. I would like to underline that we do not approve of such attempts to usurp the Venezuelan people's will," President Erdoğan said.

Noting that the annual bilateral trade volume between Turkiye and Venezuela has risen from $84 million in 2016 to over $1 billion in the first 9 months of 2018, President Erdoğan said: "We should increase Turkiye's exports to Venezuela and make our trade more balanced and more sustainable. I would like to note that we have the means and the capabilities to deliver most of Venezuela's needs."

"We do not approve of unilateral sanctions and trade-restrictive measures. They are very wrong. We believe these practices will further deepen the instabilities."

"Bitter experiences of the past have proven that political issues cannot be resolved by blanket punishment of a people. During a period like this, it is now more important than ever for Turkiye and Venezuela to stand in solidarity."

"As a country which suffered a heavy economic attack in recent months, we do not approve of atrocities which disregard the parameters of the global trade system. We, as Turkiye, maintain an unbiased approach in favor of cooperation with all countries within the framework of a transparent trade system based on rules," President Erdoğan said.

"With my visit, we start a new chapter in Turkiye-Venezuela relations. The geographical distance between our two countries should not be seen as an obstacle before strengthening our relations and diversifying our cooperation," President Erdoğan said.

"Turkiye stands beside Venezuela, which has suffered certain countries' manipulative attacks and economic hitmen's sabotages," President Erdoğan underscored.

"I believe my friend Maduro, with the support and solidarity of the Venezuelan people; will thwart the economic siege attempts. I ask you to see this historic visit as a symbol of the Turkish people's solidarity with the Venezuelan people." (ILKHA)