Trilateral summit concludes with positive note to enhance cooperation to ensure peace and stability in region

ISTANBUL, Nov 1 (APP) The trilateral summit of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey concluded in Istanbul on Tuesday on a positive note with three countries signing agreement and memoranda of understandings for cooperation in different areas and expressing willingness to join hands to build a combined partnership to ensure peace and security in the region.

The conference was hosted by Turkish President Abdulah Gul and it was attended by  President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai along with the military chiefs, foreign and interior ministers.

At the concluding of the trilateral summit, the three countries signed documents for cooperation at a ceremony witnessed by President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

Pakistan and Turkey signed an agreement for currency swap allowing businessmen and trading community to do trade in local currencies.  It was signed by Governors of State Bank of Pakistan and Central Bank of Turkey.

Interior Ministers of the three countries signed an MoU on training cooperation while Army Chiefs of the thee countries signed protocol for conduct of mutual exercises and training courses.

After the signing ceremony, the three Presidents told a news conference that as an outcome of the summit, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to evolve a cooperation mechanism for investigations into assassination of Prof. Burhanuddin Rabbani.

The leaders also discussed possibility of forming a Commission at Foreign Ministers' level to identify problems confronting the region, preparing a programme for their resolution and ensuring follow up.

President Zardari while addressing the press conference said three

countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey have agreed to

re-energize their efforts in support of peace and reconciliation in

Afghanistan.

He said Pakistan attaches great importance to the Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey Trilateral Summit Process. Expressing his special appreciation to President Gul for Turkey’s valuable contribution and constructive role in the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan, President Zardari said it is a great contribution by Turkey to host this trilateral summit.

He said the three presidents, have had very open and productive discussions during their meeting today. The President said, “Along with Afghanistan, Pakistan has also suffered immensely on account of terrorism. We, therefore, remain firm in our resolve to eliminate this menace.”

“We have also agreed to strengthen regional economic cooperation through this important trilateral process,” said the President in his remarks at the press conference.

Referring to the outcome of the trilateral summit, President Zardari said,  “We have signed between our three countries two important MoUs on cooperation between our respective Ministries of Interiors and our three militaries.”

Referring to bilateral relations with Turkey, President Zardari said, “We have signed a Currency Swap Arrangement with Turkey that should provide a boost to our bilateral commerce and trade.”

President Zardari thanked President Abdullah Gul and the Turkish people for the warm hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation. The President also expressed sympathy and solidarity with the Government and people of Turkey on the recent earthquake and said that Pakistan offered assistance to Turkey but President Gul said they are fully prepared to handle this crisis.

Replying to a question, the President said since democratic government came into power it has covered miles in improving the bilateral relations with Afghanistan. He said through this trilateral process process, both countries engaged each other and had more interaction and there has been improvement in the bilateral relations of two countries.

President Asif Ali Zardari said eventually the world community has realized that there has to be a regional solution of the issue and the region has to take the responsibility.

He said, “Distant friends, however, well-intentioned they might be, would not know our culture and traditions” adding “Turkey is better placed to guide us.”

The President expressed satisfaction that through the platform of the trilateral process, Pakistan and Turkey has been able to sign a currency swap agreement and the three countries have understood the necessity of inter-connectivity to get access to more markets. President Zardari said during the summit the three leaders had in-depth

discussions on how to bring peace to the region and to the world. He said the world today is heavily inter-dependent and no country whether big or small can remain in isolation.

President Zardari said Pakistan is ready to provided every possible support to both Turkey and Afghanistan whenever needed.

Replying to a question about utility of the trilateral process, President Zardari said the situation in the region is very complex and one must not expect quick results.

He pointed out that despite their ten year long stay in Afghanistan,the armies of the world could not solve the problem. He said Afghanistan has always been known as graveyard of emperors and this is an established fact since centuries.

President Zardari said, “Whenever we move forward some interest groups and non-state actors create hurdles in the peace process.”   He said,”Ever since assumption of power by a democratic government in Pakistan we have moved much towards improvement of relations with Afghanistan.

He said,”Some years back it was not possible for Presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan to sit together but we have now met for the sixth time to discuss the issues involved.”

President Abdullah Gul of Turkey said the understanding between Pakistan and Afghanistan to evolve a mechanism for investigation of assassination of Prof. Rabbani is indication of confidence building between the two countries.

He said, “The trilateral process would continue as it is the only way forward for regional cooperation and we can fight problems of the region.”  The Turkish President expressed concern over incidents of terrorism both in Afghanistan and Pakistan and said these have led to loss of precious lives.

He said Pakistan is one of the countries that has suffered a lot due to terrorism and President Asif Ali Zardari also lost his spouse in a terrorist attack.  President Hamid Karzai while addressing the press conference said terrorism is affecting both Pakistan and Afghanistan and future of the youth.  He said the two countries should work sincerely together to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

Karzai said after assumption of power by President Zardari, Afghanistan and Pakistan has had numerous positive engagements but assassination of Prof. Rabbani created difficulties for the peace process. Asked to explain his remarks that talks should be held with Pakistan and not Taliban, the Afghan President said it was not possible to hold talks with Taliban who are suicider as one of the members of messenger of the peace talks became sucider bomber and killed former President Burhanuddin Rabbani.

He said, “We believe we should talk to Pakistan to find solution to the problem.”

Karzai said, “We can not keep talking to suicider bombers till we have address, telephone number and door to knock at.”