Turkey a country with high economic and political importance, says Colombian President Santos

ANKARA (A.A) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon said Friday that Turkey was a country with high economic and political importance in a world rapidly moving. Speaking to students and faculty members at the Ankara University on Friday, President Santos said that his visit to Turkey was crucial to consolidation of ties between Turkey and Colombia. Turkish-Colombian relations must be placed on solid base and be fruitful. The Latin American Research Center at the Ankara University is crucial to boost relations, Santos said. Many many years ago, individuals with Turkish passports moved to Latin America. This was a great migration. Most of these people settled in Colombia and facilitated Turkey's presence in Colombia, Santos said. According to a research conducted a few years ago, more than 50 percent of the population in our region had ties to Turkey. We were very surprised by the research, Santos said. Colombia is going through a tough period. We have to fight against many problems. Colombia has become the center of illicit drug distribution. It is a country regarded to have violence and as one in which human rights are violated, Santos said. For years, we had to defend ourselves. As such, Colombia could not demonstrate its potential, Santos said. Colombia has extremely strong institutions and we want to become a country that is important in the global platform, Santos noted. Colombia has become a dynamic and strong democracy in a decade. In only a period of 10 years, we have become a country with importance, Santos underlined. We are seeking for an important position in foreign policy. This is why we are here in Turkey today. We think we can work together in a new world, Santos said. Pointing out the importance Ataturk attached to peace, Santos said that they were in search of peace both in their country and abroad. Problems of the world affect us all. We need to unite and establish a common stance. If we share common views, we will then gain importance, Santos said. We are not against Europeans. But we demand tax discipline from them. We need to tell the Europeans that they should have tax discipline as the lack of discipline affects us, Santos said. I was impressed by the Literature Faculty of Ankara University. Colombia attaches high importance to literature. We believe that Colombians speak the most beautiful Spanish in the world, Santos said. We believe we should increase our contacts with the Ankara University. If necessary, we can send a delegation of Colombian rectors to Ankara, Santos also said. Following the conference, President Santos participated in a ceremony to inaugurate the monument on Colombian thinker Rufino Jose Cuervo at the Ankara University. President Santos is the first Colombian president to make an official trip to Turkey.