10/01/2012

Japan, Turkey Agree to Restart Talks on Nuclear Cooperation Pact

Japan and Turkey agreed Friday to work toward the resumption of negotiations on a bilateral nuclear cooperation pact. The agreement was announced by Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu after their meeting in Ankara. Davutoglu also told a joint news conference that Turkey is hoping to launch talks with Japan on a bilateral free trade agreement. In an attempt to enhance bilateral economic cooperation, the two countries agreed to start regular ministerial-level dialogue, Gemba said, adding that Japan will consider the feasibility of an FTA with Turkey within this new framework.

Turkey is planning to build nuclear power plants in three locations by 2023. The talks between Tokyo and Ankara on the construction of its second nuclear complex, as well as on a civilian nuclear power pact, were suspended following the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan. During a working lunch later in the day, Gemba and Davutoglu exchanged views on the nuclear standoff between Iran and the West, according to a Japanese official. Davutoglu told Gemba that Turkey will continue to be actively involved in trying to resolve the rising tension between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, the official said. Davutoglu visited Iran for two days through Thursday.

Both Japan and Turkey import oil from Iran, at a time when the United States and the European Union are stepping up their sanctions on Tehran. Gemba is on an eight-day tour that started Thursday and will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to discuss regional and energy issues.

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