Viva Pakistan-Turkey friendship: ‘We are one nation living in two states’

Uzun yaşamak Türkiye ve Uzun yaşamak Pakistan! Viva Pakistan-Turkey friendship

Pakistan and Turkey don’t jsut share a Crescent and Star and a flag–they share a common history, religion and ethnicity. The current government of Turkey has made Turkey the 17th largest economy in the world. It has now undertaken massive projects around the world to spread its power and influence. Many hope of the Neo-Ottomans to resurrect Muslim unity. Others see Ankara as a bridge between the East and the West.

Gialni while speaking to the Turkish grand assembly said

“It is a relationship predating our modern states, an affinity transcending generations. Our people’s affection for Turkey is spontaneous, their love, deep and sincere,”

“There may be a distance of thousand miles between Jinnah Cadesi in Ankara and Ataturk Avenue in Islamabad, but there are no spaces between our hearts. We are one nation living in two states.”

Gilani also referred to the spiritual bond between Maulana Rumi and Allama Iqbal that epitomises the essence of Pak-Turk relationship. He said the two great thinkers, who lived centuries apart, shared a common thread of spiritualism. PM Gilani (The Nation).

The effusive eulogies were not one sided. President Gul also had some very good words to say “Gül described both the award and the medal bestowed upon Gilani as “a strong symbol of eternal, everlasting and unwavering fraternal relationship between our countries and our peoples.” (Daily Zaman)

Both sides were tight-lipped about the burgeoning military cooperation between the two countries–however it is common knowledge that Turkey and Pakistan are working together in UAVs, and Satellites.  Ankara is also extremely interested in the JF-17 Thunders.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Gilani discussed ways to reinvigorate and deepen Pakistan-Turkey ties by widening cooperation in all spheres.

Erdogan said the Turkish defence industry had significant production capacity in armoured personnel carriers, unmanned aerial vehicles and sea vessels. He said Turkey would start production of attack helicopters by 2013, while referring to possibilities of defence cooperation between the two countries.

PM Gilani met with Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Mehmet Ali Shaheen, co-chaired the first plenary session of the High-Level Cooperation Council along with the Turkish PM, and visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kamal Ataturk. Daily Times.

Turkey is eager to build wind farms and housing in Pakistan.

The Tribune Express from Pakistan reports. ANKARA: Pakistan and Turkey signed 18 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) in Ankara on Tuesday, in the first-ever meeting of the High Level Cooperation Council (HPCC).

The HPCC brings together senior cabinet ministers from Turkey and Pakistan to actively work on avenues of cooperation between the two countries. A senior Pakistani official described the HPCC as a “joint cabinet”.

Significant MoUs were signed between the health ministries of the two countries, focusing on post-disaster health services, training health personnel and reducing maternal and child mortality rates. More significantly, Turkey also signed a MoU offering Pakistan concessions on Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) trade. Turkey also focused on assisting Pakistan on post-flood infrastructure reconstruction with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointing out that Turkey had extensive experience in the housing sector and would offer its expertise to Pakistan on rebuilding homes, schools and hospitals in the flood-affected areas.

The Turkish prime minister also said that Pakistan had a critical need for clean drinking water, which was a project that he wanted to focus on.

This focus on the social sectors is likely to be somewhat disappointing for Pakistan, which was hoping to sign MoUs and agreements on projects such as Thar Coal, hydroelectric power and oil and gas exploration. Pakistan had focused extensively on attracting investment in these sectors, a move that Turkey seems to have set aside for now.

Nevertheless, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is likely to return to Pakistan as a happy man given that Turkish President Abdullah Gul awarded him the Jamhuriyat Nisan (Republic Order).

Earlier in the day, Gilani also addressed the Grand National Assembly, where he suggested raising the level of trade with Turkey to $2 billion by 2012 and asked the Turkish government to encourage its private sector. Gilani, who became the first Pakistani head of state to address the 90-year-old Grand National Assembly, said the Jamhuriyat Nisan was a great honour for him.

In response to a question by a Turkish journalist in the press conference, Prime Minister Erdogan commented on WikiLeaks, explaining that Turkey had formed a commission to follow up on the disclosures made on the website. The commission comprises the justice ministry, the prime minister’s office and the foreign ministry. He sharply criticised the leaks, saying it would negatively impact America’s diplomatic efforts. (With additional input from APP). Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2010.

Gilani ended his speech at the grand Assembly of Turkey with the words.

“Viva Pakistan-Turkey friendship”.

Uzun yaşamak Türkiye ve Uzun yaşamak Pakistan!

Uzun yaşamak Pakistan Turkey dostluk

Sevgili Türk erkek kardeş ve kız kardeş Pakistanis ve Türk erkek kardeş

via Viva Pakistan-Turkey friendship: ‘We are one nation living in two states’ « Rupee News.