During his meeting with the
Speaker of Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mr. Cemil Çiçek here at
Aiwan-e-Sadr today, the President terming Pakistan
and Turkey
as vibrant democracies said that the Parliaments of the two countries and their
members could play a critical role in strengthening and deepening the special
relationship.
Mr. Cemil Cicek was accompanied
by Özlem Yemişçi, Deputy of Tekirdağ, Mr. Burhan Kayaturk, Deputy of Van and
President of Turkey-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. Oktay Öztürk,
Deputy of Erzurum, Ambassador Mustafa Babar Hizlan and other officials.
Speaker National Assembly Dr. Fehmida
Mirza, Secretary General Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Spokesperson to the President
Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Sughra Imam and other officials were also
present during the meeting.
Welcoming Speaker Grand National
Assembly of Turkey and his delegation to Pakistan , the President expressed
the hope that his visit will deepen the friendship between the Parliaments and
the two countries.
He said that it was a matter of
great pleasure to note that Pak-Turk Friendship Group is the largest in Turkish
Grand National Assembly.
The President said that evolving
democracies throughout the world could learn a lot from the experience of Turkey in
democratic evolution.
The President said that the
frequent exchanges of parliamentary delegations between Pakistan and Turkey would provide an opportunity
to learn from each other and work together for strengthening of democracies and
democratic institutions.
The President also mentioned
important legislative measures undertaken by the Pakistani Parliament to strengthen
democracy and democratic institutions. Restoration of 1973 constitution to its
original form, 18th Constitutional Amendment, devolving executive and
legislative powers to the provinces, introduction of wide-ranging reforms in
Gilgit-Baltistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas, steps taken for safeguarding the rights of
minorities, legislative measures to introduce democratic culture in the
governance pattern making it more transparent and all-inclusive, and similar
other measures were some of the important steps in our march towards
strengthening of democracy, the President said.
Discussing bilateral relations,
the President said that Turkish leadership is held in great esteem among the
people of Pakistan .
Referring to Prime Minister Erdogan’s recent address to the Pakistani
Parliament, the President said that his address was widely appreciated as frank
and sincere advice from the leader of a brotherly country.He said that the people of Pakistan deeply
appreciate the role of Turkish leadership in further strengthening historical
relations between the two countries. The President said that we greatly admire
giant strides that Turkey
has made on the road to socio-economic progress under its visionary leadership.
People-centric policies and the welfare agenda pursued by the Turkish
leadership has made a qualitative impact in improving the lives of citizens in
Turkey and Pakistan was keen to learn from the Turkey’s experience, the
President said. The President also reiterated the
proposal to declare 2013 as “Turkey Year” in Pakistan
and “Pakistan Year” in Turkey .
Speaker Grand National Assembly
of Turkey Mr. Cemil Cicek thanked the President for the warm welcome extended
to him and his delegation and reiterated the desire of the Turkish leadership
to further deepen and broaden the relationship between the two countries.
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More photos of the visit http://goo.gl/MNeJG
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