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| Gilani meets Turkish Parliament Speaker, Deputy PM |
Sunday, 30 September 2012 14:25:57
Gilani meets Turkish Parliament Speaker, Deputy PM
ANKARA, Sept 29 (APP): Former Prime Minister and Senior Vice
President of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
was warmly received by the Speaker of Turkish Grand National
Assembly (TGNA) Cemil €i‡ek here on Saturday.
Gilani said that parliaments, as true representatives of the
popular will, had a central role to play in nation building.
All the state institutions need to work in harmony and in accordance
with their constitutional mandates, he added.
The TGNA Speaker agreed with Gilani on the supremacy of the
parliament and the free will of the electorate to choose their
representatives.
Gilani said that Pakistan and Turkey had suffered alike in
their quest for democracy.
Both the leaders agreed that the respect of democratic
institutions, rule of law and will of the electorate were essential
for peace and stability in the country.
The former Prime Minister briefed his host about the
constitutional amendments adopted with consensus in Pakistan.
He expressed the hope that the important work on the
Constitutional Commission formed under the leadership of Cemil €i‡ek
(pronounced as Jamil Chichek) for drafting a new constitution for
Turkey would complete its work successfully.
Gilani fondly recalled his address to the TGNA during his visit
to Turkey in December 2010. He mentioned that the Turkish Prime Minister
was the only foreign dignitary, who had twice addressed the Parliament of
Pakistan.
He underlined the need for regular parliamentary exchanges
that would further strengthen the exemplary friendship between the
two countries.
Cemil €i‡ek mentioned that the Pakistan-Turkey Friendship Group
was the single largest group in TGNA. Gilani specifically noted the
contributions of Burhan Kayaturk, President of the Pakistan-Turkey
Friendship Group in the TGNA, who was also decorated with Sitara-e-Imtiaz
in recognition of his meritorious services.
On the invitation of the Turkish Prime Minister, Gilani is
leading a three-member Pakistan Peoples Party delegation to the
Justice & Development Party's (AK Party) Congress to be held in
Ankara on September 30.
The delegation comprises Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister
for Commerce & Senior Vice Chairman of PPP and Faisal Karim Kundi,
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Later on, Bakir Bozdag, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, hosted
a luncheon in honour of Gilani and his delegation. Gilani said it
was a matter of pride for Pakistan and members of his delegation to
participate in the AK Party Congress.
Recalling Bozdag's visit to Pakistan in connection with the
second meeting of High Level Cooperation Council, Gilani said that
the MoUs signed during the HLCC should be implemented effectively for
tangible results.
On the economic situation in Pakistan, Gilani said that
Pakistan had diversified its economic sector with focus on
agriculture. Despite the global recession and the problems of
terrorism, floods and power shortages, Pakistan had achieved self-
sufficiency in food items.
Pakistan is now able to export wheat, rice and sugur, he
added.
Bozdag agreed with Gilani that there was greater scope for
improving commercial ties between the two countries.
He assured full support of Turkey for initiating projects
according to the development needs of Pakistan.
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