New Delhi: Turkey today became the first
member of Organisation of Islamic Conference to issue a joint
declaration with India against terrorism amidst the Turkish
President's assertion that his country's special relationship
with Pakistan does not in "any way create obstructions" for
Indo-Turkey ties.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,
Turkish President Hayrunnisa Gul underlined that "the special
relationship between Turkey and Pakistan does not in any way
create obstructions for Turkey-India relations, which Turkey
intends to carry forward".
The assurances assumed significance against the backdrop
of India being kept out at a regional conference on
Afghanistan held recently in Istanbul at the behest of
Pakistan. India had lodged its protest with Turkey over it.
The two countries agreed to work together with other
like-minded countries for the finalisation of Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the earliest.
The declaration, one of the two such documents adopted
after the meeting between Singh and Gul, denounces "those
who sponsor, abet and instigate terrorism and provide them
safe havens".
Asked if the point referred to Pakistan, they said it was
not any "country-specific".
Underlining the importance of such a declaration with
Turkey, sources said it was a key player in world arena and
its commitment to work together for finalisation of the anti-
terror convention will play a crucial role.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 09, 2010, 21:00