News
January 26, 2010
Trilateral Summit between Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan Begins in Istanbul
The fourth trilateral summit hosted by Turkey and attended by the Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan was held on Monday evening in Istanbul.
Leaders of Turkey and Pakistan once again congratulated President Karzai on his re-election and underscored as important the priorities set in his inaugural speech.
The three leaders called the trilateral summits as an effective tool in strengthening relations and cooperation in the interest of the three nations.
The summit is the fourth of such summits since it was initiated by Turkey aimed at boosting regional cooperation and development in 2007. The summit, the leaders agreed has also been an important opportunity for an enhanced economic cooperation between the three countries.
The meeting was followed by a joint press conference by the leaders of the three countries, where Turkish President hailed the results of the talks and said their discussions included a wide range of issues of security, political and economic importance. President Gul said, “Afghanistan’s problems cannot be overcome by military means alone,”
In answer to a question on the progress in talks with the Taliban, President Karzai said he was happy to now see support by his American and European allies in negotiating with the Taliban. President Karzai said the West was now supportive of his plans to try to get those Taliban who leave armed struggle and rejoin civilian life. “I think we will receive support at the London conference.”
President Karzai thanked Turkey for its positive role in furthering the environment of trust and better relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and urged for continued talks in a bid to tackle problems.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari responding to a question said “We cannot distance ourselves from dialogue and talk about only war” and continued that his government was ready to negotiate with the militants who want to give up their way of life and are reconcilable.