Above: CARICOM headquarters

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Sulé Oztunç has officially been accredited as Turkey’s Ambassador to CARICOM.

The move is part of what seems to be a larger push by Turkey to deepen its ties with the Caribbean region.

Accepting Oztunc’s credentials this week, CARICOM Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said Turkey had a growing commitment to ensure the “immense potential” of its relationship with the Caribbean was “fully realized.”

The two sides held their first ever cooperation meeting in Turkey in July, and Turkey has signaled its desire to set up a diplomatic outpost in the Caribbean.

LaRocque said CARICOM and Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board had recently concluded a Memorandum of Understanding to pave the way for the establishment of Turkey-CARICOM business councils.