ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that both Malaysia and Pakistan had the political will to further improve their relations with Turkey.
Holding a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Prime Minister Erdogan gave information about his visits to Malaysia and Pakistan.
''Besides bilateral relations, regional issues were also taken up during our meetings in these countries. Ministers and businessmen in the delegation met with their Malaysian and Pakistani counterparts,'' he said
Describing Malaysia as a friendly country, Prime Minister Erdogan said that Turkey and Malaysia shared the common cultural values despite the geographical distance between them.
He emphasized that both Malaysia and Pakistan had the political will to further improve their relations with Turkey.
''During our meetings with Malaysian officials, we have reached a consensus to increase our trade volume up to 1 billion U.S. dollars,'' he told reporters.
Erdogan said that it was decided to take some steps to increase trade volume with Pakistan.
Recalling that three agreements about highway transportation, environment and fight against illicit drug trafficking were signed between Turkey and Pakistan, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the Turkish Airlines would increase its flights to Pakistan.
Erdogan said, ''during our visit to Malaysia, bilateral relations were taken up in detail. We sought for opportunities to further improve our relations. Malaysia has been a friend of Turkey for long years. Turkey and Malaysia share common cultural values despite the geographical distance between them.''
''Relations between our countries have been improving on a sound ground. Both Turkey and Malaysia have the necessary political will to further improve their bilateral relations. Our mutual trade volume is far away from the satisfactory levels. We decided to increase current trade volume of 350 million U.S. dollars up to 1 billion U.S. dollars,'' he said.
Recalling that Turkey-Malaysia Business Council meeting was held during their visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, ''Turkish and Malaysian businessmen have signed serious cooperation and investment agreements. Also, we have decided to set up a committee under the chairmanship of deputy prime ministers to further improve our bilateral relations. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will preside the committee. The committee will convene once in a year on the level of prime ministers.''
Prime Minister Erdogan said they had talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and the high level officials in Pakistan. Erdogan said this visit was a means to re-improve relations with Pakistan where a high level visit had not been paid since 1996.
Erdogan said the talks took place in a sincere atmosphere, adding that bilateral and regional issues were taken, and that facilities to further improve cooperation were discussed. He said there was mutual will in both governments to further improve relations.
Stating that there were rooted friendship relationship between Turkey and Pakistan, Erdogan said, ''our political relations are in a perfect level. However, our economic and commercial relations should be improved. When you consider the average of trade volume between Pakistan and Turkey in the past 10 years, it will be seen that it is around 156 million U.S. dollars. This is a very insufficient figure. We have stated that steps should be taken rapidly.''
Erdogan said three agreements were signed between Turkey and Pakistan, stating that they were about highway transportation, cooperation in environmental protection, and fight against drugs. He said highway transportation agreement was important to improve economic and trade relations.
Erdogan said difficulties regarded with increase in number of flights of Turkish Airlines (THY) to Pakistan were overcome, noting that THY from now on could have flights to Karachi everyday and also to Islamabad.
Erdogan said State Water Works (DSI) and Directorate General of Highways decided to have cooperation, stressing that there were difficulties in potable water, waste water and irrigation water in Pakistan. Erdogan said facilities were provided to the contractor companies to have talks on highways, ports and airports.
Erdogan said they also exchanged views on Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East, Cyprus and Kashmir. He said new regional and global developments require consultations and cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan to increase. ''We have pointed out our determination to act jointly,'' Erdogan said.
ERDOGAN: ''TURKEY WILL CONTINUE ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED STATES AGAIN ON THE SAME WAY''
Erdogan responded to the questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Question: Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal started contacts in the United States. It has been stated that strategical partnership was mentioned in the talks. What is your evaluation within this framework to re-enliven relations with the United States?
Answer: Our relations with the United States are extremely positive. There is no concern or difficulty in this respect. You should see it in implementations. From time to time, we hear that there are different voices. We don't feel uneasy as we know the incident was different from what has been told. I hope Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will visit the United States soon. You will see the facts more clearly there. Turkey would continue its strategic partnership with the United States, based on years, on the same way. This continued in Iraq and will continue.''
Question: You said economic program will end next year and that a new stand by would not be made with the IMF. Can you explain this?
Answer: Economic program will end at the end of 2004. We will continue the economic program till to the end of 2004 in a sensitive manner. We said we will stand on our own feet starting as of this date. We will not need such a thing if we manage to stand on our own feet.
Question: Is any arrangement regarded with National Security Council (NSC) in question within the scope of Adjustment Package?
Answer: No. Have you heard us saying something about this? You know the 6th adjustment package will pass from the Parliament. It is under discussion in commissions. Later, 7th Adjustment Package will come.
Question: There is increase in number of clashes between the students in Iran, how do you evaluate this?
Answer: This is Iran's own problem. It will not be right to make an interpretation about Iran's domestic problems. This will create uneasiness due to the sensitivities between the two countries. We hope that Iran will accelerate democratization process and reach to a better position.

(AY-AÖ) 17.06.2003