Heads of state and other dignitaries from African countries and Turkey started an economic cooperation summit in Istanbul on Monday.
The three-day summit in Turkey’s cultural and financial centre is part of the country’s intensifying efforts to expand ties and increase trade volume with the African continent.
Turkish officials expect delegations from 50 countries, including seven heads of state.
Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president accused of directing a genocide in his country, also will arrive in Istanbul for the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit.
Al-Bashir was accused last month by the International Criminal Court prosecutor of directing a genocide in Darfur, Sudan’s troubled region where up to 300 000 people have been killed and more than 2,5-million displaced since 2003.
Al-Bashir has said that Sudan does not recognise the court in The Hague, The Netherlands, and will never cooperate with it.
Ethnic African groups in Darfur rebelled against al-Bashir’s government, accusing it of discrimination, and his regime is accused of unleashing Arab militias known as janjaweed that are blamed for atrocities against civilians.
Turkey has increased its trade volume with African nations from $5,4-billion to $ 13-billion in less then three years, and is targeting $30-billions by the end 2010. — Sapa-AP