ANKARA (A.A) - 04.06.2002 - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday that Turkey and Mongolia were determined to promote the relations in every field.
Sezer, who returned from trips to Mongolia and Kazakhstan, told reporters that he evaluated friendship, brotherhood and improving relations between Turkey and Mongolia during his meetings with his Mongolian counterpart Natsagiin Bagabandi and other officials.
They saw that the two countries had several possibilities to improve economic relations despite the geographical distance during his contacts, Sezer said.
Sezer continued, ''we examined cooperation fields between Turkish and Mongolian private sectors. We had the opportunity to see the successful results taken by Mongolia pioneered by President Bagabandi in strengthening democratic structure and free market economy and integrating with international community.''
''I exchanged views about regional and international issues with Mongolian officials. I learned about the point of view of Mongolia towards regional issues,'' Sezer added.
SEZER: ALMATY ACT IS SIGNED TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AND COOPERATION
Sezer said that Almaty Act was signed during the summit meeting of Conference for Cooperation and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia in order to make preparations for a new organization to strengthen security and cooperation.
Almaty Act included confidence building measures, Sezer said and noted that it foresaw cooperation among signatories in many fields, particularly in fight against terrorism.
Sezer stated that Turkey supported the process initiated by Kazakhstan in 1992.
The Almaty Act, which reflected the stage that this process had reached, was important because it foresaw an organizational structure for the cooperation to be made in security among 16 countries, Sezer pointed out.
Sezer added, ''Turkey is ranked at the top of the countries that can efficiently transfer the experiences it has gained especially within the scope of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to neighbouring countries. As in the process during which Almaty Act was put forth, Turkey will continue to support such initiatives and exert efforts to ensure regional security and stability.''
SEZER: IT IS OBVIOUS THAT PAKISTAN AND INDIA CANNOT REACH ANY RESULT WITH A CLASH
Sezer, told reporters that he had the opportunity to hold bilateral contacts with the leaders of some countries during the summit meeting of Conference for Cooperation and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.
''As you know, international community is concerned about the recent escalating tension between India and Pakistan. We also have the same concern. We exchanged views about this issue during the NATO Russian Council Meeting held in Rome last week. Russian President Vladimir Putin and I had noted that we wanted to meet with the leaders of Pakistan and India during the summit meeting to be held in Almaty. Ally countries supported our concerted efforts to ease the tension,'' Sezer said.
Sezer stated, ''this morning, I firstly met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and then with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I stressed the importance of the speech, which Musharraf made on January 12 and in which he put forth the determination about taking necessary steps in fight against terrorism.''
Noting that he told Musharraf that he supported this attitude of Pakistani President, Sezer said, ''I drew the attention that implementations that would end terrorist activities should be continued in the direction of this policy announced by Mr. Musharraf. I observed Musharraf was determined to do what he was saying.''
Sezer added, ''I also stressed during my meeting with Vajpayee that efforts should be exerted to solve the problems between India and Pakistan, including Kashmir, through dialogue by reducing the tension with the steps taken by Pakistan in fight against terrorism. It is obvious that the two countries cannot reach any result with clashes.''
Stressing that diplomacy should be given a chance, Sezer said, ''I stressed during my meetings that use of nuclear weapons owned by the two countries in a possible clash will not only have negative effects on regional and world peace but also will be a disaster. Not only during my bilateral contacts but also during the speeches that the leaders of the two countries made at the summit meeting, I got the impression that administrators of Pakistan, with which we have historical friendly ties, and India, with which we are trying to further improve our relations in every field, will have the common sense and be moderate enough to prevent such a dangerous development.''
Sezer noted that he informed Putin about his meetings with Musharraf and Vajpayee during the luncheon hosted by Nazarbayev and said that Putin foresaw a meeting with both of the leaders in the evening.
''What we are trying to do is to contribute to the efforts of the international community in preparation of a medium of dialogue that can ease the tension which may have a very negative impact on world peace,'' Sezer added.