KABUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday Turkey would stand by Afghanistan as the war-torn country struggles to rebuild its shattered infrastructure.
"I want to tell you that in coming years we will remain by our Afghan brothers' side, in reconstruction of schools, drinking water and road construction which will take place by establishing investment," Erdogan told a press conference in Kabul.
"We will encourage Turkish investment here," he added.
During his talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Erdogan signed a cooperation agreement for developing Afghanistan's health sector but neither Erdogan nor Karzai gave further details at the press conference.
Erdogan is scheduled to hold talks with other Afghan officials and visit the Turkish military contingent here, which currently commands the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Turkey took over the ISAF command in February for a period of six months, its second stint at the helm of the force following an initial term between June 2002 and February 2003.
Erdogan will meet with NATO Senior Civilian Hikmet Cetin and ISAF Commander General Ethem Erdagi on Thursday and hold a lunch with Turkish troops.
He will also meet with representatives from Turkish companies before flying home to Ankara.
04/20/2005 15:08 GMT