President of Argentina Cristina Kirchner has recently visited Qatar, Kuwait and Turkey.

During her visit, she met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Nouvelles d’Arménie reports.

Erdogan urged President Kirchner to double trade between the two countries. There is a large Arab community, particularly of the Syrian-Lebanese origin in Argentina. Many of them, mostly Christians, have been nicknamed “Turcos” (Turks), since their ancestors fled from persecutions in the Ottoman Empire. The empire also included Syria and Lebanon and many of them held Ottoman passports.

Member of the Congress of Argentina Ricardo Alfonsin expressed regret that Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner did not recall the Armenian Genocide during her visit to Turkey.

“One can develop ties and trade relations, without sacrificing human rights,” leader of the Radical Civic Union said.