Erdoğan arrives in Cuba, says US sanctions 'inhumane'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the U.S. sanctions on Cuba were not right in a sense of conscientiousness, during his visit to the Caribbean country.

"We do not find sanctions over Cuba right in either a humane or conscientious sense," he told reporters, after meeting with his counterpart Raul Castro.

The U.S. and Cuba decided to restore relations after five decades of severed ties by opening embassies and swapping prisoners last December.

Cuba is the second stop of Erdoğan's Latin America tour after Columbia, a tour he is taking to boost business and cultural ties. He will head to Mexico for his last destination.

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker and Culture Minister Ömer Çelik are part of the Turkish delegation.

Erdoğan said a trade volume of $28 million with Cuba is a low figure as a result of the sanctions.

He also said Turkish Airlines, the country's flag carrier airlines, is ready to launch flights between Mexico City, Havana and Istanbul.

"I believe a much more positive process will develop with Latin countries, following the flights," said Erdoğan.

Turkey seeks to build a mosque in Cuba's capital on its own as soon as a deal is settled between the officials.

Erdoğan told of an Ottoman-style mosque project in Havana. However, Cuban officials had already made an agreement with Saudi Arabia for a mosque construction in Havana.

"We have told them that we could build a similar one to Ortakoy Mosque in another city, if you have promised to others for Havana," said Erdoğan, adding that Turkey's religious affairs directorate will follow the process.

Ortaköy Mosque, located near Istanbul strait at popular district, has 19th century Ottoman style architecture.