(DIP) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS AFRICAN COUNTERPARTS IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, Sep 23, 2009 (TUR) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met with his African counterparts in New York ahead of meetings of the United Nations General Assembly.

Davutoglu met Ghanaian Foreign Minister Muhammed Mumuni, Cameroonian External Relations Minister Henri Eyebe Ayissi, and Tanzanian Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Kamillius Membe.

Davutoglu said during his meeting with Mumuni that Turkey was planning to open an embassy in Ghana, and added that the two countries should speed up efforts to sign a free trade agreement.

Davutoglu and Cameroonian Minister Ayissi discussed ways to develop a legal framework to eliminate double taxation and sign a free trade agreement between the countries and the Turkish foreign minister said Turkey could train Cameroonian diplomats.

The Turkish foreign minister and his Tanzanian counterpart discussed recent development in Somalia, as Foreign Minister Membe said his country appreciated Turkey's contributions to operations against Somali pirates.

Davutoglu also met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)