Pakistan Children's Folk Dance Turkey, 23 April 2011 (National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey)

President Zardari conferred Turkey's Highest Award "Devlet Nishan" or State Order Medal

ANKARA, Apr 13, 2011: Turkish President Abdullah Gul conferred on President Asif Ali Zardari the highest Turkish State Order Medal 'Devlet Nishan' at an impressive investiture ceremony on 13th April 2011. President Zardari, who is on a four-day official visit to Turkey, while receiving the award said, "this is a special honor that has deeply touched me. I will always cherish it as a great personal treasure."The President said the Devlet Nishan will also serve to remind the strong brotherly ties between our two nations."The importance of this ceremony goes beyond symbolism. It is a testimony to the special nature of our relations. It is a testimony of the brotherly relations between our two peoples... that existed even before Pakistan and Turkey emerged as modern nation-states."
President Zardari said that the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in his meeting with the first Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan had said, "A long history binds the people of Turkey and Pakistan right from the very birth of political consciousness among the Muslims of the sub-continent".
The President said, "it is therefore no surprise that the first official mission sent abroad by Pakistan was to Turkey in October 1947."
"Over the years our historical, political and cultural ties have further deepened. The "Devlet Nishan" conferred on me today has placed on my shoulders the responsibility to carry forward our relations to even greater heights."
The President reiterated his resolve to working closely with Turkish brethren for the progress and development of two peoples.  "Long-live Pakistan-Turkey friendship", he added.

ANKARA, April 11: President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here  on 11 April 2011 evening on a four day official visit to hold talks with Turkish leadership to further cooperation and strengthening existing bilateral ties.President Zardari was warmly received by Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin, Governor Ankara Alaattin Yuksel and Pakistan's ambassador to Turkey Tariq Azizuddin at Esenboga International Airport.He will hold meetings with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Speaker Turkish Grand National Assembly Mehmet Ali Sahin.The President's entourage includes  Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar,Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Chairman Board of Investment M. Saleem Mandviwala.
They  will assist him in formal delegation level talks with the Turkish leadership.During his stay, President Zardari will visit the mausoleum of founder of modern state of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to pay his respects. President Abdullah Gul will confer the Turkish state order medal Devlet Nishan on President Zardari in a special investiture ceremony for his contribution to promote bilateral ties between the two countries.
The President will also meet Turkish businessmen and members of think tanks, academia and media.
A delegation of leading businessmen from Pakistan will be in Ankara who will interact with Turkish businessmen and discuss prospects for joint ventures in various areas of the economy.

PAKISTAN’S NEWLY COMMISSIONED FRIGATE VISITS TURKEY

ANKARA, 21 April 2011: Pakistan Navy’s Frigate PNS ALAMGIR (FFG-260) is visiting Golcuk Naval Base, Turkey on 21 April and departing on 24 April 2011. PNS ALAMGIR, an Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigate, was commissioned in Pakistan Navy on 31 August 2010 at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, USA. PNS ALAMGIR will go a long way in enhancing Pakistan’s capability to provide maritime security in North Arabian and adjoining seas. Presently, the ship is on passage to Pakistan from United States and is scheduled to visit various ports of the friendly countries.

The ship will stay at the Naval Base for another three days and shall carry out a number of harbour and sea exercises with the Turkish Navy. Navies of the two brotherly countries have a history to organize such visits and exercises on a regular basis. Earlier in March, a Turkish Navy contingent also took part in AMAN-2011 Naval Exercise held in Karachi, Pakistan.

Pakistan Navy is actively involved in maintaining peace and stability in the region - from Gulf of Aden to Gulf of Oman including North Arabian Sea. Pakistan Navy ships are vigorously operating and participating in all peace keeping missions. In support of UN Resolutions, Pakistan, alongwith other regional and extra regional Navies  is helping to deal with the menace of pirates in the Gulf of Aden and along the Somali coast. Continuous presence of Pakistani ships in the busiest sea lanes has helped the continuous flow of shipping and uninterrupted economical activities. These sea routes connect the oil rich Middle Eastern states to industrialized Western world.

In support of Pakistan Government policies against piracy and maritime terrorism, this ship will mainly be deployed for coalition patrols and anti piracy operations. Ship is suitably equipped for conducting Maritime Security Operations, which has become the primary task of navies in many parts of the world.  With its weapons and sensors, the ship will not only be most suitable platform for any kind of benign role, but will also enhance the defensive capability of Pakistan against any aggression.

PNS ALAMGIR is 453 feet in length and displaces 4100 tons. It is propelled by two gas turbines engines and can do sustained speeds of 30 knots plus. It is well equipped for Anti-Submarine Warfare. Its 76 mm fully automatic gun is capable of shooting both air and surface targets. It can carry 2 helicopters for multiple tasks. Its large radius of action makes it a very suitable platform for sustained maritime operations away from home port.

After Zardari’s visit to Ankara

by Hasan Kanbolat, h.kanbolat@todayszaman.com
Today's Zaman, published on 19 April 2011.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari was in Ankara last week for an official visit, from April 11-14. Zerdari’s visit was overshadowed by Turkish domestic politics because it coincided with the deadline for political parties to submit their deputy candidate lists to the Supreme Election Board (YSK). Even though it did not attract a lot of public attention, the meeting was very important for economic and security relations between the two countries. It is believed Zardari is searching for an opportunity to establish cooperation with Ankara in the fields of economy and security. Political relations between Turkey and Pakistan are tight but the brotherhood in politics has been reflected onto cultural, social and economic relations. Turkey and Pakistan exhibit friendship only in historical relations, during high level political contacts and through solidarity at international organizations when discussing political topics that concern both countries. Trilateral summits that have been going on between Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2007 have been successful. In March, the three countries conducted a joint military exercise in İstanbul. In October, the three countries will hold a joint natural disaster drill. But the success in political ties does not manifest in other ties. Turkish and Pakistani people, intellectuals and students don’t know each other very well. Scholarship programs and exchange student and teacher programs between the two countries are insufficient. There are no funds or ventures to bring intellectuals, artists and representatives from universities and think tanks together and to organize joint meetings. But in regions that fall outside of Turkey’s realm of influence like Africa and Asia, where Pakistan is quite active, Turks and Pakistanis have a strong solidarity. In these places, Pakistanis provide help and support to Turks. Economic relations are also quite weak between Turkey and Pakistan. The relations do not reflect the strength of the two nations and their economy. Trade volume between Turkey and Pakistan was $990 million in 2010 (Turkey’s export figure is $240 million, import is $750 million). President Abdullah Gül said he wanted to increase the trade volume between the two countries to $2 billion in 2012. Zardari held several meetings in Ankara to consolidate economic cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan. He called on Turkish investors to invest in Pakistan to help the country overcome economic troubles. The flood disaster in Pakistan caused its economic problems to multiply and senior Pakistani officials have been searching for economic support. Steps have been taken to encourage and facilitate foreign investment in Pakistan. But there are two obstacles to improving economic relations between the two countries. The first is the bureaucracy in Pakistan. The second is the failure to diversify and reduce the cost of transportation between the countries. For this reason new initiatives to improve transportation are expected. Gül’s proposal to construct a railway between Islamabad and İstanbul is considered to be an important step in transporting commercial goods from Pakistan to Europe. Gül presented the highest state medal of Turkey to Zardari on April 13 and hosted a dinner in his honor, which was accompanied by an amazing performance by Sufi music artist Mercan Dede and his friends. It’s not hard to see the wisdom of Presidential Secretary-General Mustafa İsen at play in these relations. It’s important to know that Turkey’s Pakistan delegation consists of young and dynamic diplomats and that these diplomats are the ones ensuring dynamism in bilateral relations. Turkey’s Ambassador to Pakistan Babur Hızlan, Turkish Foreign Ministry South Asia deputy director and new Ambassador to India Burak Akçapar and Korkut Güngen, the head of a section in the Foreign Affairs Ministery are among the first Turkish diplomats who come to mind in improving relations between the two countries. Let me conclude this article on Zardari’s visit with his own words: “There is an expression in Pakistan. Even though one plus one makes two, when Turkey and Pakistan come together it makes 11. In other words, Turkey and Pakistan are two sister countries.”

Zardari Gul meets, discuss Gul cargo train, currency swap, bank branches in Pakistan

Ankara, April 13, 2011: Pakistan and Turkey today took a joint leap forward in economic collaboration, when the Presidents of the two countries formally agreed in two separate meetings – one tete a tete and the other at the delegation level to upgrade the existing Islamabad-Istanbul Railway Line, open up five Turkish bank branches in Pakistan and a currency swap arrangement to bolster trade and commerce.

Briefing journalists about the meetings, Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that the meetings started soon after President Zardari arrived at the President Gul’s House to a 21 guns boom and a guard of honour. At the delegation level meeting, the pre-feasibility report of the proposed ‘Gul’ train between Pakistan and Turkey was also unveiled, he said.

According to the pre-feasibility, a weekly fast goods train would ferry merchandise from Lahore to Istanbul in nine days as compared to 18 days at present and further into the European markets thereby opening and connecting hitherto unconnected and unexplored markets. The train can be connected to other countries in the region and Central Asia region in the next phase, according to the pre-feasibility.

Farhatullah Babar said that it was also agreed in the two Summit level meetings to double the bilateral trade to US$ 2 billion from the present US$ 1 billion annually and to address issues related to free trade agreement (FTA), joint financial instruments and preferential treatment through special mechanisms and stepped up contacts between the relevant ministries of the two sides.

‘Our economic relations are based on the premise that Pakistan occupies a special and unique place in our scheme of things,’ the Turkish President said during the meeting.

President Zardari also invited Turkish companies to invest in the proposed project of building a new city ‘Zulfiqarabad’ in Sindh to ease pressure on the province’s mega cities, Zardari offered Turkish companies’ participation in reclamation of 2.5 million acres of land now under sea on the basis of public-private partnership in which the Turkish companies will be allowed to set up economic ventures of their own on part of the reclaimed land. Accepting the offer, President Abdullah Gul said that he will send a team of private entrepreneurs to Pakistan to examine the proposal.

The Spokesperson said that the cooperation between civil aviation authorities of the two countries also figured in the talks with President Gul declaring that Turkey will never seek an arrangement that put Pakistan to any disadvantage.

Regional situation, developments in the Middle East and issues relating to the trilateral Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey meetings also came under discussion.

A short documentary on the recently concluded joint military exercises of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey, the first of its kind, was also screened on the occasion to highlight the growing trilateral cooperation.

About the current situation in North Africa and Middle East, President Zardari said that as pillars of stability in the broader region, Pakistan and Turkey were well placed to play a positive role in dealing with the prevailing situation in the Middle East.

President Zardari also thanked the Turkish President for Turkey’s assistance in the evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Libya. Welcoming the successful outcome of the inaugural session of the High Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) in December last, the President called for setting up a joint investment company to undertake infrastructural projects and for institutionalizing financial cooperation.

Farhatullah Babar said that the President also called for enhanced security and defence cooperation through increased military-to-military interaction, joint exercises and collaboration in defence production, saying that the mid-life up gradation of Pakistan’s F-16 in Turkey was a demonstration of close defence cooperation.

Gul train strong symbol of forward looking ties of Turkey, Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Apr 17: Gul cargo train traversing 6500 kilometers from Islamabad, Tehran to Istanbul will become a symbol of things to come between Pakistan and Turkey in coming years. The project got a final shape in the recent four day official visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Turkish capital Ankara from April 11-14. With the strong encouragement of leaders of the two countries, Turkish Union of Chambers (TOBB) has announced to immediately start a company to run the project.  The company will seek collaboration with business groups of Pakistan and Iran to execute the project. “We are planning to get the train running in less than a year,” said Rifat Hisarciklioglu, President of the Turkish Union of Chambers (TOBB) during a briefing to the Turkish and Pakistan Presidents. Weekly trains are expected to take a one way trip in 11 days between Istanbul and Islamabad. Gul train will open up the unconnected and unexplored European and Asian markets for Pakistan. During his stay, President Zardari held fruitful discussions with Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Speaker Grand National Assembly, Mehmet Ali Sahin on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Presidents in their meetings agreed to upgrade the existing Islamabad-Istanbul railway line, open up five Turkish bank branches in Pakistan and arrange for currency swaps to bolster trade and commerce. Pakistan and Turkey are keen to expand their bilateral trade volume from existing $ one billion to $ two billion by year 2012. Turkish President in a joint press conference with President Zardari told that as his country has a customs union with Europe to trade goods, it will extend full support for enhancing Pakistani exports moving from Turkey to European markets.  In his remarks before international media, President Abdullah Gul said his country’s economic relations with Pakistan were based on emotions emanating from sense of brotherhood. “Our economic relations are based on the premise that Pakistan occupies a special and unique place in our scheme of things,” he stated.  President Gul told his Pakistani counterpart that he will send a team of private entrepreneurs to Pakistan to examine the proposals for investment in projects mentioned by the Pakistani President. Zardari offered Turkish companies’ participation in reclamation of 2.5 million acres of land now under sea on the basis of public-private partnership in which the Turkish companies will be allowed to set up economic ventures of their own on part of the reclaimed land.  President Zardari also invited Turkish companies to invest in the proposed project of building a new city ‘Zulfiqarabad’ in Sindh to ease pressure on the province’s mega cities. During negotiations, the two sides discussed many aspects of their cooperation in joint investment projects, security, defence, energy, infrastructure and trade and agreed on steps to boost collaboration in these fields. Cooperation between civil aviation of the two countries also came up in the talks with President Gul declaring that Turkey will never seek an arrangement that put Pakistan to any disadvantage. Turkish affection for their Pakistani brethren was on full display during the maiden bilateral visit of the President.  People of Turkey and Pakistan have common religion, culture and hundreds of common words in their languages and Turks appreciate role of Muslims of sub-continent in their war of independence in the early 20th century.  Before this visit, President Zardari made five visits to attend trilateral Pakistan-Afghanistan-Turkey summits and international conferences. Turkish President acknowledged the contribution of President Zardari in promoting Pak-Turkey bilateral ties by conferring on him highest state order medal Devlet Nishan in an impressive investiture ceremony at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. President Zardari visited mausoleum (Anit Kabir) of founder of modern Turkey, leader of its war of independence and first President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to pay homage. APP

President Zardari leaves Ankara after four-day official visit

ANKARA, April 14: President Asif Ali Zardari left here Thursday evening for Pakistan from Esenboga International airport after a four-day official visit to Turkey, during which he held talks with the Turkish leadership to promote bilateral ties.During the visit, President Zardari met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Speaker Turkish Grand National Assembly.The President also addressed members of Turkish think tanks, media and academicians and leading businessmen.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar and Chairman Board of Investment Saleem Mandviwala accompanied the President. APP

President Zardari pledges full support to Turkish investors in setting up banks, energy projects

ANKARA April 14 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday invited Turkish businessmen to set up banks and invest in energy, infrastructure and food processing projects with the full support and incentives by the government of Pakistan.Addressing Turkey-Pakistan Business Council here at an event organized by Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TOBB), he said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto started the process of building relations with Turkey and he owes it to the future generations to work for furthering the bilateral ties.The President referred to the rescue of a Turkish envoy in Ivory Coast by the Pakistani peacekeeping troops and evacuation of Pakistanis by Turkey in Libya as a sign of strong feelings which the peoples and governments of the two countries have for each other.

President Zardari said years back Turkey was facing economic difficulties with high inflation but now it has emerged as a model of economic growth.
He said his government will focus on enhancing bilateral trade by promoting connectivity of the region through road and rail links and energy corridors.
Focus of the two countries will remain on successfully executing Gul freight train project and upgrading the railway lines to cut short costs and time, he said adding they are looking into the possibility of running the train at 200 km per hour to make it more feasible and using modern technology to remove technical difficulties.
The President urged Turkish businessmen to take advantage of the incentives offered by Pakistani government.
Pakistan and Turkey are friends having common history and language and the next bond of friendship will be interdependence because of trade, he said adding Turkey offers gateway to the markets of Europe while Pakistan besides being a big market of 170 million itself is neighbour to big countries like India and China and provides access to Central Asian states.
He reminded that Pakistan is rich in natural resources and will give preference to Turkish companies for exploitation of its mineral wealth and investment in industrial and financial sectors.
The President said as competition is fierce between the countries in the economic field so there is a need for common strategies by Turkey and Pakistan, which are two states but one nation.
He said the PPP-led government of Sindh is willing to give land to Turkish businessmen on 99 year lease and they can raise money through Pakistani stock exchanges and take back their capital and profits to begin more projects. 
The President said Pakistan has an educated and skilled population and its middle class is growing and it can become food basket and produce textiles for economically strong countries like Turkey.
He said in the last few years, there is a sea change in agriculture in Pakistan with farmers earning more money.
The President said Turkey has great potential to boost its tourism due to its history.He said next century belongs to Asia and Pakistan will be a vital part of that resurgence and there is a need to have out of box solutions for maximum utilization of the new opportunities.
“We need to improve our agriculture through use of improved seeds and irrigation and better per acre yields,” he said adding Turkish businessmen can invest in agro and processed food industry due to Pakistan’s traditionally strong agricultural background.
The President said Pakistan is turning towards alternative fuels to counter the challenges posed by environmental challenges caused by carbon dioxide emissions.

Pakistani peacekeeping forces rescue Turkish envoy, businessman in Ivory Coast

ANKARA, April 14 : Pakistani peacekeeping forces rescued the Turkish ambassador to Abidjan, who had become trapped in Ivory Coast amid the ongoing turmoil there.According to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet,clashes around the hotel district in Abidjan trapped Ambassador Yal‡in Kaya Erensoy in the embassy building, part of a hotel compound,and stranded a Turkish business leader in his hotel in a separate location.The businessman, who was already in poor health, was rescued by the Pakistani forces, which are serving under a U.N. mandate, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry took the initiative at the level of the United Nations in New York, as well as with the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara, to rescue Ambassador Erensoy and the businessman identified as Ali Ates because Turkey does not have a peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast.
“The ambassador was trapped when the clashes escalated,” a well-informed source said. The Turkish request to rescue the stranded Turks was conveyed to the Pakistani forces by the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara.
The rescue coincided with a visit to Turkey by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who arrived in Ankara late Monday and met Wednesday with President Abdullah Gul. The Turkish President thanked his counterpart during the meeting for Pakistan’s quick response to the crisis.
Turkish officials said the Pakistani move was a clear sign of the strong relationship and brotherly solidarity between the two countries. Turkey was one of the first countries to extend help to Pakistan during the catastrophic floods there last summer.
Sources said the ambassador was currently in Abidjan and was secure, adding that the businessman was also secure and was likely receiving treatment.