Turkey's foreign minister wraps up Afghanistan visit, reaffirms support

Turkey's foreign minister wraps up Afghanistan visit, reaffirms support

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

Davutoglu met President Hamid Karzai during his visit to Afghanistan, where Turkey has around 730 soldiers in a NATO-led military force, as well as Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.

 

"We will continue our support to Afghanistan," AFP quoted Davutoglu as telling a press conference with Spanta. "We will support Afghanistan during our presidency of the UN Security Council," he added.

 

Davutoglu's office announced Thursday Turkey plans to host two international gatherings in the coming months aimed at boosting support for conflict-torn Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

The first meeting, planned for September, will bring together the Friends of Pakistan group, which aims to help Pakistan's economic development as a means of stabilizing the restive country.

 

The group includes Turkey, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia and Italy plus the United Nations and the European Union.

 

In November, Turkey will also host a meeting of countries neighboring Afghanistan to discuss how to help the war-ravaged country.

 

Turkey, a NATO member, has had traditionally close ties with both Afghanistan and Pakistan and has since 2007 hosted three meetings between their presidents in a bid to encourage the two countries to overcome their differences and cooperate against Islamist extremists.

 

Davutoglu was also quoted by the state-run Anatolian Agency as telling the conference that Turkey and Afghanistan would set up a strategic dialogue and cooperation mechanism.

 

He said Turkey was exerting efforts in Afghanistan not only in security area but also in economy and education areas.

 

Davutoglu said Turkey completed 550 projects including 42 schools and many hospitals and vocational training centers in Afghanistan in the last three years. 

 

Turkey targets to contribute to reconstruction of Afghanistan as a strong, stable and prosperous country, he added.

 

Spanta told the conference that Turkey had always extended support to Afghanistan, Anatolian Agency reported.

 

He added they would increase efforts to set up a strategic dialogue and cooperation mechanism between Turkey and Afghanistan.

 

Davutoglu proceeded to Afghanistan from Pakistan on his first trip to these two countries since he assumed office in May.

 

Davutoglu met high-level Pakistani officials, including Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zerdari, during his stay in the country.