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Category: Pakistan

  • Turkey offers military hardware to Pakistan

    Turkey offers military hardware to Pakistan

    Turkey offers military hardware to Pakistan

    * Two countries agree to strengthen bilateral ties

    * Agree to deepen security cooperation in campaigns against terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking

    ANKARA: Pakistan and Turkey on Tuesday agreed to further strengthen and take their existing bilateral ties to “greater heights” through enhanced cooperation in a range of areas, including defence, with Turkey offering military hardware and assistance in infrastructure building.

    Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after co-chairing the first High-Level Cooperation Council meeting, told a press conference that the inaugural session of the HLCC remained useful and would help steer “our unique partnership to ever greater heights”.

    The two sides also signed 18 memoranda of understanding and protocols for increased cooperation in various fields, including health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, housing, media etc.

    To a question, 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.

    “We are moving forward very confidently and engaging in commercial relations” and this is essence of defence sector, he added.

    Meanwhile, in a meeting at Erdogan’s residence, the two leaders noted the growth in bilateral trade, and reaffirmed their desire to achieve the target of $2 billion trade volume by 2012, through early finalisation of a strategic economic cooperation framework, and fast-tracked trade facilitation and measures for businessmen.

    Security: On security and military cooperation, Gilani and Erdogan agreed to deepen security cooperation in their campaigns against terrorism and extremism, illicit arms trafficking, as well as counter-narcotics and human smuggling. The two sides also agreed to exchange of cultural delegations, academia and parliamentarians for strengthened people-to-people contacts.

    Reforms: He hoped Pakistan would benefit from Turkey’s experience in reforms.

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

    Gul said the two countries had successfully passed the test of history and had ties that continued to grow over the years as the two sides supported each other through thick and thin. He hoped that relations between the two countries would further strengthen in the days ahead and extended full support in the fight against terrorism and extremism. Besides meeting with the Turkish PM and president, Gilani also addressed the Turkish Grand National Assembly, being the first Pakistani head of government to address

    the assembly. He also 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. app

    via Daily Times – Leading News Resource of Pakistan – Turkey offers military hardware to Pakistan.

  • Prime Minister Gilani to visit Turkey

    Prime Minister Gilani to visit Turkey

    ANKARA: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will start a four-day visit to Turkey Monday to discuss bilateral and regional issues, the Turkish prime minister’s office said.

    Gilani will start a four-day visit to discuss bilateral and regional issues, the Turkish prime minister's office said. -AFP File Photo
    Gilani will start a four-day visit to discuss bilateral and regional issues, the Turkish prime minister's office said. -AFP File Photo

    Gilani and his counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, were to chair the first meeting of a “high-level cooperation council” set up last year and comprising several ministers from both sides, a statement said Sunday.

    The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, an official from Erdogan’s press office said.

    Gilani’s programme included also talks with President Abdullah Gul, a speech at the Turkish parliament and a meeting with Turkish business people in Istanbul.

    Turkey has had traditionally close ties with Pakistan.

    Since 2007 it has also hosted meetings between the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan in a bid to push them to overcome their differences and cooperate against extremists.

  • Gilani due in Turkey next week

    Gilani due in Turkey next week

    ANKARA, (SANA): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani will pay a three-day official visit to Turkey starting from 6 – 9 December.

    The Prime Minister will meet the Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Pakistani premier will co-chair the inaugural session of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in Ankara.

    The HLCC provides a unique platform to give a long-term strategic direction to bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries of Pakistan and Turkey.

    PM Gilani will have the honour to address the Turkish Grand National Assembly besides meetings with the Turkish leadership.

    In recognition of Gilani’s services for promoting brotherly relations between the two countries, President of the Republic of Turkey will confer the award “Republic Order” (Cumhuriyet Ni?an) in a special investiture ceremony.

    Premier Gilani will interact with Turkish business community at Istanbul over a luncheon hosted by Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Turkey.

    In a special convocation ceremony, Marmara University will award Honorary Doctorate degree in journalism to Prime Minister Gilani.

    In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the furtherance of Pakistan – Turkey bilateral relations, PM Gilani will present the award of “Hilal-e-Pakistan” to Madame Emine Erdogan.

    Ends-SANA-P-AF-ZS

  • Turkey seen as role model for Pakistan in US cable

    Turkey seen as role model for Pakistan in US cable

    ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

    Rauf Engin Soysal, UN special envoy for assistance to Pakistan. AFP photo
    Rauf Engin Soysal, UN special envoy for assistance to Pakistan. AFP photo

    Moderate, progressive Turkey, a relatively stable Muslim democracy, is well-positioned to be a positive role model for Pakistan, a United States diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks has suggested.

    A cable dated May 2009 recounts a meeting between U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson and then-Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Rauf Engin Soysal.

    During the meeting Soysal explained Turkey’s efforts in the region and suggested greater cooperation with the U.S. regarding issues pertaining to Pakistan. Soysal detailed Turkey’s own trilateral meetings with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    According to the cable, Soysal spoke about Turkey’s relief efforts in Pakistan and said that during July and August, Turkish aid could be used in a more post-emergency way. “Soysal hinted that Turkish aid may be geared to the post-emergency phase in August-September, which would also coincide this year with the holy month of Ramadan. Soysal noted that Turkey would be the first [and so far only] Muslim country to assist Pakistan with this humanitarian crisis; he was perplexed that Saudi Arabia had not pointed up yet,” the cable said.

    “The Turkish ambassador complimented the U.S. on its May 19 announcement to provide $110 million in direct assistance to Pakistan’s internally displaced people,” the cable said.

    “Soysal was also frustrated the Pakistani government had no timeline for the offensive in Swat and thought the army was moving too slowly to initiate operations in Waziristan before next year. The ambassador added that 2,500 Waziri families had already reportedly fled their homes in anticipation of Army action, but yet, the Pakistani government refused to give international aid organizations access to the nearest settled districts,” the U.S. diplomat reportedly said in the cable.

    “With the Turks playing an increasingly high profile, constructive role in Pakistan, we will continue to develop our dialogue and find opportunities to work together in areas of mutual interest,” the cable said. Soysal is currently serving as U.N. Special Envoy for Assistance to Pakistan.

    As yet, none of the claims or allegations detailed in the documents made public by WikiLeaks have been supported by any evidence.

  • Ethics council members defend Turkey trip

    Ethics council members defend Turkey trip

    Dicky Christanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 11/30/2010 8:40

    Golkar Party lawmaker Nudirman Munir insisted that a stopover in Turkey by lawmakers, including himself, had not violated any House regulations. Therefore, he added, there was no need to follow up the recent report made by several NGO activists.

    “We have solid prove that the two-day trip was made due to the unavailability of tickets. Besides, the trip was arranged by the travel agent and not us, so don’t put the blame on us,” he told journalists after the installation of the new ethics council members Tuesday.

    Nudirman was recorded to have been involved in a heated debate with former council speaker Gayus Lumbuun over the allegation of wrongdoing by eight council members during their homeward trip from Greece last month.

    Gayus at that time suspected that the two-day stopover in Turkey had clearly violated the House’s code of conduct and therefore suggested a preliminary examination was in order to determine whether there was a strong indication of misconduct or not.

    The heated debate between Gayus and eight of his fellow travelers then led to the House leaders’ decision to recall all members from the council. However, only the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) recalled all members, including Gayus Lumbuun. Most of the other parties kept their representatives in the council.

    via Ethics council members defend Turkey trip | The Jakarta Post.

  • Turkish ship to provide electricity to Karachi

    Turkish ship to provide electricity to Karachi

    Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the first rental power plant at the Karachi Port Trust. – APP Photo
    Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf unveiling the plaque to inaugurate the first rental power plant at the Karachi Port Trust. – APP Photo

    KARACHI: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Sunday that Turkish power ship will provide 232 megawatts of electricity to the national grid for Karachi at the prevailing power tariff.

    Parvez Ashraf was speaking at a ceremony held to welcome the world’s largest power ship Kaya Bey Karadeniz from Turkey at Karachi Port which will provide 232 MW to national grid for Karachi.

    He said that some people in the media were airing incorrect news reports that the ship will not provide electricity to Karachi and that Karachiites will pay Rs 17 per unit as the cost of rental power is very high.

    “It is also incorrect that the industry and the people of Karachi will pay higher electricity rates. 232 MW electricity from this ship will go to the national grid energy mix and will be provided to Karachi at NEPRA rates approved for Karachi. Therefore, Karachiites will pay the prevailing power rates”, the Federal Minister added.

    He said that in the last two years, more than 1800 MW have been added to national grid with the help of 8 IPPs and two rental power projects (RPPs).

    Four more independent power projects with    a capacity of generating 800 megawatts (MW) of power will be completed by end of this year to further improve electricity supply in the country.

    The Minister said that the government was following the multifaceted approach to enhance power generation in the country and all the resources including hydel, thermal and coal are being used for this purpose.

    Ashraf also said that the government was working on a strategy to provide electricity to the people at affordable rate with the help of energy mix. This is a challenge, he noted.

    He said the government is forced to buy costly electricity from RPPs for five years till the time that long-term cheap power projects come on stream.

    Explaining the reasons for increasing power tariff, the Minister said that previously, Pakistan was generating 70 per cent of its electricity through hydel power and 30 per cent from thermal. Now it is the opposite, the country is producing 70 per cent of its power from thermal generation, he added.

    In his inaugural address, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that the power ship has obtained all the necessary certifications and quality tests from concerned departments including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    He called upon Turkish energy group to make more direct investment in energy sector and other sectors in Pakistan.

    He thanked Karadeniz for bringing in the power ship to Karachi at the time of need and quoted a famous proverb “a friend in need is a friend indeed”.

    Shah said that this ship will provide 232 MW of uninterrupted power supply to Karachi for the next five years. He also urged Port Qasim Authority to provide maximum support to the Turkish power ship.

    Sindh CM called upon the federal government to extend more support to Thar coal projects for the early commissioning    of power generation from these projects.

    He said the Engro power project, a joint venture of Sindh government and a private company will generate 2500 MW of power.

    President Karadeniz Energy Orham Ramzey said that the ship with 19 brand-new power generating engines has been completely built in Turkey and    will provide uninterrupted power supply.

    The power ship will start power generation after anchoring at mooring basin at Ibrahim Hyderi near Port Qasim in the next four weeks.

    He said that the financial close of the project was reached in a record time keeping in view the urgency of PPIB for power needs.

    Turkish Ambassador Babur Hizlan said that the ship has arrived with the aim to serve the beautiful city of Karachi.

    Referring to the historic relations between Turkey and Pakistan, he said that his country has provided $ 50 million for the relief of flood victims and another $ 142 million will be provided for their rehabilitation. – APP