SAO PAULO — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked up budding ties between Brazil -- notably their diplomatic cooperation over Iran's nuclear program -- as he made an unprecedented visit to the South American nation.
Speaking to a business conference in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, Erdogan stressed that the two countries -- temporary members of the UN Security Council -- had the courage to tackle the issue that was "making the international community very uncomfortable".
He did not dwell on the subsequent dismissal in the Security Council of the May 17 agreement he and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva negotiated with Iran by major powers the United States and Russia.
But he said that and partnerships in other areas "show we work well together".
He said Brazilian and Turkish businessmen should "take advantage of this relationship to explore opportunities," and talked up what he said was a strong investment environment in his country.
Erdogan's visit to Brazil was the first by a Turkish prime minister.
