Erdogan: Pakistan key country Extends generous strategic coop
Local Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that his country would stand by Pakistan and extend cooperation with best of its abilities to address the needs of the country in all areas.
Addressing the special joint session of the Parliament here on Monday, Erdogan said Turkey considers successes, happiness and problems of Pakistan as its own.
He referred to the support of the Muslims of the Sub-Continent for Turkey during its war of independence and said how can people of Turkey forget the love, affection and solidarity shown by them. He recalled that grand-mothers of Muslims donated their jewellery and dowry for the cause of Turkish people.
Erdogan said Pakistan is a key country for regional and global stability. He said terrorists were enemies of humanity and hoped that Pakistan would soon leave behind the trouble soon on the foundations of national reconciliation and solidarity.
He said Turkey and Pakistan are two strong States of the region and both are contributing to the regional and global peace. He said that by further strengthening our cooperation both the countries could overcome the problems being faced by the region.
He said that Pakistan is not alone in its campaign against terrorism and extremism but Turkey stands by it has always been the case and ready to help Pakistan in its efforts to combat this menace.
He hoped that with the joint political declaration signed Sunday, both the countries will carry forward their excellent relations to even higher level in all areas. He said both the countries will particularly strive to accelerate their economic and trade relations and InshaAllah will raise their trade volume to two billion dollars by the end of 2012.
He appreciated Pakistan for its efforts to solve Afghan problem and strengthen Pak-Afghan relations during the last two years in collaboration with Turkey.
Erdogan said Pakistan and Turkey are taking part together in various fora such as ECO, D-8 and OIC and said that both the countries are working together in all economic realms ranging from transportation infrastructure to energy lines, from banking to development projects and a peaceful and prosperous future young generations together. He stressed the need for increasing airline connections besides connecting both the countries through road connection like railways.
He hoped that a road transportation agreement would be signed between the two countries shortly. He also stressed the need for promoting maritime transportation between the two countries. He said both the countries should attach particular importance to their cooperation in energy sector besides defence energy projects.
While presenting vote of thanks, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said Pakistan attaches great significance to its special relations with Turkey.
He said our relations are characterized by mutual respect and mutuality of interests. He said our support to each other is proverbial.
He said Pakistan will never forget Turkey’s generous assistance to Pakistan for rehabilitation following the devastation caused by October 2005 earthquake. He said the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister at that time and Monday ‘s visit to Azad Kashmir is a sort of balm for displaced and traumatized people.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan greatly values the role played by Turkey in the Friends of Pakistan forum. It pledged 100 million dollars at Tokyo meeting and hosted a ministerial meeting of the forum which speaks volumes of its goodwill for Pakistan.
Referring to his talks with the Turkish Prime Minister, he said they identified new areas of cooperation in multidimensional fields. He said it is a matter of deep satisfaction that the two countries signed a landmark declaration containing a detailed roadmap for further strengthening our exemplary relations. He said the two countries would be signing today another agreement for exemption of visas for businessmen.
The Prime Minister said it is gratifying that Turkey-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group is one of the largest in Turkey. Similarly, friendship group in Pakistani parliament is headed by the Speaker. The Prime Minister said Pakistan is pursuing a policy of peaceful co-existence with all its neighbours.
He said Pakistan is committed to a sustained and constructive across the board engagement with India for settlement of all disputes including Jammu and Kashmir.
He said we are of the view that the composite dialogue is win-win process for all and it is our hope that India will once again revert back to this beneficial process.
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on Oct 27 2009. Filed under