The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stressed in Ponta Delgada the interest shown by the Azorean Government further developing projects with Turkey in the area of Tourism and Culture.

Rodrigo Oliveira spoke at the end of an audience granted to a delegation of the Turkish Cooperation Agency, who is visiting the Azores. The government official stressed the importance of this meeting, noting that it "reflects the proximity and friendly relations that the Azores have developed with Turkish regions at the level of European associations, such as the Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions (CPMR) or the Assembly of the Regions."

The Turkish delegation was composed of the legal adviser Mehmet Parlak, engineer Celalettin Gungenci, architect Giray Yucel and Francisco Teves, Honorary Consul of Turkey in the Azores.
The meeting also addressed the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Cooperation Agency that aims to develop common projects, namely the construction of a monument to honour a 19th century Turkish fighter, Koca Yussuf, who died in a shipwreck near the Azores.

"The Government of Turkey aims to honour this very famous personality of Turkish history and, with this tribute, the Government of the Azores has every interest in strengthening ties and promoting the development of other projects, namely in the area of Tourism, with the increase of flight connections," stressed Rodrigo Oliveira.