Turkey And India Share Similar View on Iraq

Gul said that Turkey and India shared similar view on the U.N.’s undertaking a more effective role in re-structuring of Iraq.

Sinha said that his country could only send soldiers to Iraq on condition that it was under the supervision of the U.N. and stated that they had similar views with Turkey on U.N.’s undertaking a more effective role in re-structuring of Iraq.

GUL: A NEW PERIOD BEGINS BETWEEN TURKEY AND INDIA

Gul recalled that Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was expected to visit Turkey in the following month and said, ”these visits show that a new period is starting between Turkey and India.”

They reviewed bilateral relations in their meeting, Gul noted.

Gul emphasized that they were of the same opinion to further improve relations in fields of culture, tourism and economy and especially to enhance cooperation in technology.

They agreed to intensify contacts among officials of two countries from now on, Gul pointed out.

Gul wished that friendship between two countries would be improved.

Stating that sending soldiers to Iraq came onto agenda during their meeting, Gul said that he conveyed views of the government to Sinha.

Gul noted that the two countries were closely interested in near future of Iraq and he especially stressed the importance attributed by Turkish government to Iraq’s territorial integrity.

”We all wish the United Nations (U.N.) to take more role in Iraq,” Gul added.

SINHA PROPOSES INCREASE OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Sinha said that Turkish-Indian joint business council would convene during Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Turkey in the following month.

Interaction should be increased to make use of the economic potential between Ankara and New Delhi, Sinha noted.

Sinha stated that there was imbalance in trade between Turkey and India and exports from Turkey to India should be increased.

Turkish and Indian companies should make joint investments, Sinha pointed out.

Sinha noted that Turkey and India were situated in strategic places and improvement of cooperation would bring many advantages to both countries.

They agreed to further improve cooperation in fields of culture, economy and tourism in their meeting, Sinha stated.

Sinha said that he invited Gul to India and expressed pleasure with Gul’s accepting that invitation.

Stating that his government discussed sending soldiers to Iraq, Sinha said that they could only send soldiers to Iraq under supervision of the United Nations (U.N).

Expressing concern that Iraq was not under U.N. supervision so far, Sinha said that they were in a consensus with Turkey that Iraq’s territorial integrity should be preserved and the U.N. should take a more efficient role in that country.

PRESIDENT SEZER RECEIVES INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SINHA

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received on Monday Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha of India.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and some officials also attended the meeting in the Presidential Palace.

PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN RECEIVES INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SINHA

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received on Monday Indian Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha and accompanying delegation.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul also attended the meeting.

Sinha thanked Erdogan for receiving him despite his busy schedule.

INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS ERDOGAN THAT INDIA SHARES SIMILAR VIEWS WITH TURKEY ON IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

Indian Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday that India shared similar views with Turkey on issues of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The sources noted that the Joint Economic Commission meeting to take place between two countries in spring and cooperation in advanced technology came onto agenda during the meeting.

Visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee which was scheduled to be paid in the following month was taken up in the meeting, the sources stated.

The sources said that consensus was reached on signing of agreements on information technology, biotechnology, science technology, and improvement of cultural relations and joint investments during visit of Sinha.

Also, sides expressed belief that beginning of Turkish Airlines (THY) flights to New Delhi in September would contribute to improvement of bilateral relations between Turkey and India.

INDIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE IS VERY IMPRESSED BY TURKEY’S ISAF COMMAND

Indian Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha told on Monday Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that Turkey commanded the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan very well and it could make a contribution to Iraq within that framework.

Diplomatic sources quoted Sinha as saying in his meeting with Gul that he went to Afghanistan when ISAF was under Turkey’s command and he was very impressed by Turkey’s command.

The diplomatic sources also quoted Sinha as saying that Turkey could have a big role in settlement of peace and stability in Iraq as soon as possible.

Sinha said in the meeting that Turkey and India could cooperate in fight against terrorism and an agreement on the issue could be signed during visit of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Turkey in the coming month.

Indian Foreign Minister Sinha was also quoted as noting in the meeting that they shared similar views with Turkey to settle stability in Iraq as soon as possible and to increase the role of the United Nations (U.N.) in the region.

Afghanistan also came onto the agenda, the diplomatic sources stated.

Sinha said that the two countries were interested in Afghanistan and they were supporting Karzai government.

In the meeting, Sinha also pointed out that his country supported Turkey for its European Union (EU) membership process and they were closely interested in that issue.

Diplomatic sources said that Turkish Airlines (THY) would start flights to India in the following month and noted the two ministers expressed pleasure with that in their meeting.

The sources stated that Indian film producers were in search of places to shoot films in Turkey and Sinha was quoted as saying that the project would have positive impact on Turkish economy and would be very important for Turkey’s promotion.

Sinha also stated that 4.5 million Indians went abroad every year and asked why those tourists wouldn’t come to Turkey.

Indian Foreign Minister emphasized importance of improvement of cooperation in tourism.

Sinha was also quoted as saying that there was significant economic potential between Turkey and India but that it was not sufficiently realized.

Noting that they were aware of trade imbalance between Turkey and India, Sinha said that they wanted to overcome that imbalance.

The sources noted that Cyprus issue did not come onto agenda during the meeting.