ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Wednesday that complete annulment of Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was not on the agenda of Turkish government.
Babacan told reporters that officials in a related parliamentary committee as well as the parliament would give a final shape to Article 301.
Article 301 of TCK is on punishment to those who "insult Turkishness".
Babacan and Abdullah Shahid, foreign minister of the Republic of Maldives, signed a memorandum of understanding on comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, and then a held a joint press conference in Ankara.
Regarding Turkey's relations with Maldives, Babacan said that Turkey was pleased with the cooperation between the two countries in international platforms such as UN and Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Babacan said that Turkey welcomed the ongoing political reform process in Maldives.
He said that trade volume between the two countries in 2007 had been 1.4 million USD.
Babacan said that there was a potential between Turkey and Maldives in tourism area, and efforts would continue to further develop cooperation in this sector.
Shahid also said that his country was grateful to Turkey for its assistance to Maldives after the tsunami disaster in 2004.
Shahid said that they attached importance to cooperation with Turkey, and they would send two delegations to Turkey on tourism and commerce sectors in coming months.
He also said that they were seeking opportunities to hold direct flights between the two countries.
(GC-MS)