Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Zardari appreciates Turkey’s economic achievements

ANKARA: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday that Pakistan admired Turkey’s progress in democratic consolidation and economic achievements and its positive role in resolving regional issues. “The maturity of Turkish democracy and its economic achievements are greatly admired in Pakistan,” said President Zardari in an exclusive interview with Today’s Zaman.
“Turkey has emerged as a major power in the region. Being part of Asia and Europe, it serves as a bridge between East and West,”
he added.
Zardari also praised Turkey’s initiative in recent years and acknowledged the role Turkey played in international and regional forums.
“We appreciate Turkey’s positive role and initiatives for resolving regional issues. Turkey’s stance in forums like the United Nations, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), G-20, the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is indeed worth appreciation,” he stated.
Stressing that his country was left to deal with problems emanating from the Cold War era, the president said they have paid a hefty price in the form of drug trafficking and weapons culture.
He made it clear during the interview that Pakistan’s cooperation and gathering of intelligence foiled several global terrorism plots. “The forces of extremism and terrorism pose a threat to our own security. We remain determined and resolute to defeat them,” he emphasised.
Calling terrorism “a curse” with “no faith or creed”, Zardari underscored that terrorism was a global problem and, as such, it required a global response. “It is a toxic brew that thrives on a perceived sense of injustice, economic deprivation and marginalisation. Today, many countries around the world are facing this menace,” he explained.
Earlier, President Zardari visited the mausoleum (Anitkabir) of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and paid homage to the leader of Turkish War of Independence.
The president laid a wreath at the grave of Ataturk and stood silent for sometime in respect to Ataturk, who was the first president of Turkey.
President Zardari later wrote his remarks in a special notebook placed at the site, stating, “It is a great honour for me to pay homage to Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, an illustrious soldier, a great reformer and a visionary statesman.” app

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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