ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc left for India on Sunday as the guest of his Indian counterpart Manohar Joshi.
Holding a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure, Arinc said, ''I will go to India together with Akif Gulle, a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from Amasya, and Feridun Ayvazoglu, a deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from Corum, on an official visit which was scheduled long ago upon invitation of Indian Parliament Speaker Manohar Joshi.''
''There have been traditionally good relations between Turkey and India symbolizing the most rooted civilizations of the history and having an important influence in their regions,'' he said.
Arinc told reporters, ''during my visit to India, I will have the opportunity of assessing our bilateral relations with India with Indian Parliament Speaker Manohar Joshi. We will discuss further improvement of cooperation between our parliaments. After wrapping up my official contacts in New Delhi, I will visit Agra and Bangolor in accordance with the itinerary prepared by Indian Parliament. I will return to Turkey on December 21.''
When asked whether or not his paying his first official visit to India had any special meaning, Arinc said, ''it is a visit which was scheduled long ago.''