The Speaker of the National Assembly, Professor Peter Katjavivi, and his Turkish counterpart, Professor Numan Kurtulmuş, have strengthened bilateral relations between their countries by signing a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance parliamentary cooperation.
The signing ceremony took place in Istanbul, concluding Professor Katjavivi's official visit to Turkey, which was extended upon Kurtulmuş's invitation. The MoU includes joint meetings involving the standing committees of both legislatures and facilitates exchange visits by administrative staff.
This initiative aims to foster the exchange of experience and information on legislation and parliamentary activities. Professor Katjavivi emphasized the longstanding bond between Turkey and Namibia, rooted in their shared history of struggle for independence. He highlighted that both nations continue to uphold common values centered on respect for human rights and global peace.
Professor Katjavivi also emphasized the potential of the newly established parliamentary friendship group as a conduit between the two legislative bodies. He urged the group to focus on critical issues such as capacity building and value addition, in line with the recent government directive to halt the export of natural resources in raw form.
The Speaker of the National Assembly echoed these sentiments during his meeting with the Rector of Istanbul Technical University, Professor Ismail Koyuncu, prior to his discussions with Kurtulmuş. Expressing his condolences to the Namibian people on the death of late President Hage Geingob, Kurtulmuş conveyed his parliament's eagerness to deepen collaboration with Namibia. He stressed that Turkey and Namibia share numerous commonalities, reinforcing his country's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Kurtulmuş expressed concern over the negligible trade and investment volumes between Turkey and Namibia, highlighting the urgent need for investment promotion. He praised Namibia's dedication to global peace and its advocacy for the end of violence in Gaza and self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.
Kurtulmuş also commended Katjavivi's active participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union Task Force, which seeks a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. In response, Speaker Katjavivi assured his Turkish counterpart that the establishment of a Namibian embassy in Turkey remains a priority for the Namibian government. Accompanying the Speaker of the National Assembly are MPs Tobie Aupindi, Vincent Mareka, and Winnie Moongo. The delegation is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Erdogan during their visit.