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Turkish PM hails Pakistani-Turkish ties
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
MULTAN, Pakistan Anatolia News Agency
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during their meeting in Islamabad on Wednesday. AFP photo
Turkey's prime minister on Wednesday said it was natural for Turkey and Pakistan to help each other in hard times.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Pakistan had not left Turkey on its own during its War of Independence and after Turkey was hit by a massive earthquake in 1999. "It is natural for the people of these two countries to help each other in such times, as they love each other," Erdogan said at a ceremony in Pakistan.
During the ceremony, 1,600 large tents provided by the Turkish Red Crescent were distributed to Pakistani flood victims. Erdoğan said Turkey wanted to meet the needs of Pakistan, carry out infrastructure work and leave behind permanent projects in the region.
Turkey and Pakistan could cooperate in military, political, economic and commercial areas, Erdoğan said. Erdoğan also said Turkey and Pakistan could make joint investments in transportation, energy, agriculture and construction.
Pakistan's worst-ever floods killed nearly 2,000 people and left more than 18 million people homeless. So far, Turkey has sent humanitarian aid worth $25 million to Pakistan.
Delivering a speech in Pakistans flood-hit Multan region, Erdoğan said Turkey continued its fight against terrorism and that there were also some who hoped to spoil the unity of Pakistan. Addressing the Pakistani people, Erdoğan said: "I hope the Pakistani people will preserve their unity and integrity. You should not allow those who aim to spoil unity in Pakistan to succeed. You should work to establish a more powerful Pakistan."
"We should be hand in hand. We should work for a more powerful Pakistan and more powerful Turkey."
Erdogan said there were also those who wanted to divide the Islamic world. In reference to the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May, Erdoğan said Israel should apologize to Turkey and pay compensation. If Israel does not do that, it will be alone in the Middle East." Eight Turkish citizens and one U.S. citizen of Turkish descent were killed when Israeli forces raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters on May 31. Around 30 people were wounded in the attack.
Turkish PM hails Pakistani-Turkish ties - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review
