Onboard/New Delhi, Oct 16 (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has said that his visit to Turkey would result in serious engagement between the two countries, particularly in foreign policy and bilateral economic cooperation.
Ansari said there is a serious desire in Turkey to strengthen relations with India.
"There is a serious desire to have a substantive relationship with India. Now this is also a reflection of what we are thinking because this visit had been in the making for a few months," he told media persons onboard on his way back to India on Saturday.
"The government had come to the conclusion that Turkey is one of those countries with which we must engage seriously both in terms of foreign policy and also in terms of bilateral economic relations," he added.
Ansari stated that talks on Afghanistan's problem have paved the way for two future conferences, which would help the Afghans in taking their own decisions for their country.
"Whether it is the Istanbul conference or the Bourne conference, it will have to address itself to both sides of the problem. The first is in which the Afghans have to take the lead. But the other is in which the whole international community has to commit itself to creation of structures and commitments which will eliminate foreign interference in affairs of Afghanistan from any direction," he added.
Ansari further said that there is no need for a third party to mediate between India and Pakistan.
"I think we can talk to Pakistan in five different languages. So, there is no need for anybody in the world to play a role. We will talk to each other in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi and maybe a few other languages. There is no place for anybody to play a role between us," he asserted.
Ansari also stated that the talks to form a global convention against militancy have proved to be fruitful as the thought is slowly shaping into reality.
"I recall when I was Permanent Representative to UN, in 1993-94, even that time the Indian delegation was talking about a comprehensive convention against terrorism. There were great many countries who thought we were out of step. Today, the number is very very small, because everybody has suffered from terrorism without fail," he said.
The Vice-President's visit was billed to provide an additional impetus and momentum towards further consolidation and strengthening of the comprehensive partnership between India and Turkey in areas of mutual interest besides reinforcement of close traditional and historical friendship between both countries.
India's relations with Turkey, steeped in history, have civilisational links, encompassing architecture, arts, language and cuisine. By Praful Kumar SinghANI)
|
|
Comments:
