Erdogan In Afghanistan

KABUL - Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has remarked that Turkey pays utmost importance to peace, security and stability in Afghanistan. ''Turkish people will continue to support the Afghanis in the areas of education, health and infrastructure,'' said Erdogan.
Erdogan was welcomed in Kabul at the Presidential Palace with a military ceremony. Erdogan was warmly welcomed in Kabul by the Afghani President Hamid Karzai.
Erdogan indicated that the Turks and Afghanis are the children of the same civilization. ''We have always been together and side by side during our struggles for independence. We can not ignore this fact. We will never forget the sacrifice the Afghani people made during Turkey's war of independence. After the struggle for independence ended, the first guest of the new Turkish republic was Emanullah Khan,'' mentioned Erdogan.
Erdogan stressed that his administration is encouraging Turkish businessmen and businesswomen to have more investments in Afghanistan. ''We would be very pleased and honored to see President Karzai in Turkey soon. This is a request made by our President Ahmet Necdet Sezer,'' commented Erdogan.
Erdogan expressed that ISAF has been successful in Afghanistan in dealing with terrorist activities. ''The support shown by the Afghani people made a difference in our struggle against terror in Afghanistan,'' told Erdogan.
Afghani President Hamid Karzai has noted that ISAF has played a prominent role in training the national army of Afghanistan.
''With the assistance of the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency, we will construct new schools, hospitals and residences in Afghanistan. We will help the Afghanis help themselves,'' noted Erdogan.
Premier Erdogan added that Turkey will provide 500 billion TL worth of medical assistance to Afghanistan.
Erdogan also met Afghanistan's former King Mohammad Zahir Shah today. Erdogan and Shah's meeting was closed to the press.