ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mohammad Fahim Khan of Afghanistan met with National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting, Khan said that his visit to Turkey was very special and they wanted to see Gonul in Afghanistan.
Noting that Turkey and Afghanistan had deep-rooted ties, Khan stressed that international community had been making significant contribution to fight against terrorism in Afghanistan.
Recalling that Turkey had undertaken command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for settlement of stability in Afghanistan, Khan said, ''Turkey has once again shown us its friendship. We wish these relations would continue.''
Meanwhile, Gonul said that relations between Turkey and Afghanistan had root deep in history and bilateral relations had been intensified since foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
Stating that 1,300 Turkish soldiers had fulfilled duty in Afghanistan when Turkey commanded ISAF, Gonul said, ''during that period which lasted eight months, we have found the Afghan people's love with Turkish people in the confidence they showed to Turkish soldiers. This period was probably the most peaceful period in Afghanistan recently.''
Recalling that more than 100 Turkish soldiers were currently fulfilling duty in Afghanistan, Gonul said that former Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin was currently serving as the NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan.
Asked what kind of security measures they would take after killing of a Turkish engineer and kidnapping of a company official in Afghanistan, Khan said, ''safety of Turkish companies making business in Afghanistan and other foreigners in business environments has been provided. Unfortunately, some terrorist acts happen outside business environments. We will do our best to prevent it.''
Replying to a question about three helicopters which Turkey had announced to send to Afghanistan under the NATO, Gonul said, ''we have made the allocation, but we don't want to confirm the dispatch. Latest development is about Luxembourg's meeting the cost of it. NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer has said, 'we are working on it'. It has not reached the phase of implementation, but we are waiting.''
(MS-AÖ) 09.03.2004