Erdogan addresses parliament today

Mamnoon thanks Turkey for its strong support for Pakistan’s Nuclear Suppliers’ Group membership bid

ISLAMABAD: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will today become the first foreign dignitary to address Pakistan’s parliament for the third time.

The Turkish leader landed in Islamabad on Wednesday, embarking on a two-day visit — his first to Pakistan since an attempted military coup failed to dislodge him from power earlier this year. Shortly after arrival, he met his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain, who hosted a dinner for the Turkish leader.



Erdogan is scheduled to address a joint session of parliament today (Thursday) for a third time having done so earlier in October 2009 and May 2012. He will also meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other senior government officials, and will travel to Lahore later in the day as well.

According to sources, the Turkish president will hold important meetings with Punjab government officials. They said the meetings will discuss different joint development ventures between Pakistan and Turkey related to energy and infrastructure, mainly being executed in Punjab, and map out related strategies.

On Wednesday, President Mamnoon and Erdogan agreed on joint cooperation between the two countries for further deepening trade and defence relations, resolving Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions, bringing about durable peace in Afghanistan and eliminating terrorism.

Mamnoon thanked Turkey for its strong support for Pakistan’s Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) membership bid.



An official statement said President Mamnoon proposed to conclude a comprehensive and long-term ‘Framework Agreement for Defence Cooperation’ between Pakistan and Turkey which was agreed by the visiting dignitary. He expressed satisfaction at Turkey’s cooperation for Pakistan Navy’s submarine upgrade and acquiring of Super Mushak trainer aircraft from Pakistan.

President Erdogan said bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries will grow further in the coming days, adding that all necessary measures in this regard will be taken.

The two leaders agreed that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions. Expressing concern over human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir, President Mamnoon called for an inquiry of these atrocities under UN auspices. Mamnoon thanked Erdogan for Turkey’s support on the Kashmir issue and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Turkey’s position on Cyprus and hoped that the issue will be resolved soon.

President Mamnoon also noted that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Turkey has declined during the last few years and emphasised the need to enhance it.  The Turkish president stressed the need for joint ventures for enhancing trade and said there will be an improvement in this regard.

Mamnoon voiced hope that Turkish investors would invest in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure sectors and expressed satisfaction at growing Turkish investment in Pakistan.

The two leaders condemned terrorism in all its manifestation and reiterated the resolve to continue to cooperate on eliminating the menace. Erdogan said the Turkish people will resolutely defeat terrorists belonging to PKK and Da’ish. He commended the resolve of the Pakistani nation and armed forces in the fight against terrorism and hoped that peace will soon be completely restored in the country.

President Mamnoon proposed to celebrate the 70th year of Pakistan-Turkey diplomatic relations in a befitting manner through exchange of high-level visits, issuance of joint commemorative stamps and cultural exchanges to which his Turkish counterpart agreed.

Mamnoon informed Erdogan of developments related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and said that this mega-project will be a source of progress and stability in South and Central Asia and the Middle East. Erdogan expressed pleasure at fast-paced development of CPEC and said Turkey believes that this project will become a source of international peace and stability.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2016.