ISLAMABAD (APP) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said Pakistan and Turkey together can bring peace and stability to the entire region through greater cooperation.

“As long as we are in solidarity and continue our historical ties...not a single regional problem (can) be an obstacle to our peace and stability,” Erdogan said in his address to the specially convened joint sitting of the Pakistani parliament.
Erdogan said Turkey and Pakistan are two influential and strong countries of the region and would together continue to endeavor to strengthen global peace.
Turkish Prime Minister, who was earlier decorated with Pakistan’s highest civil award, expressed confidence that Pakistan will surmount the challenge of terrorism, which was a common enemy of the entire humanity.
“You are not alone in your campaign against terrorism and extremism,” he said and mentioned that Turkey too has had suffered heavily from terrorism.
“In this context, let me underline that both my government and the Turkish people stand by their Pakistani brothers and we are ready to help address all their needs to the best of our abilities.”
Erdogan hoped that “Pakistan will leave behind its troublesome days” through national reconciliation and solidarity.
Turkish Prime Minister, who spoke at length about the multifaceted historical ties that exist between the two countries, said Pakistan has always occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of Turkish government and its people.
He added Turkey has been a part of Friends of Democratic Pakistan group from the very beginning and always underlined the need to redress the issues confronting Pakistan as it was key country for regional and global stability.
Erdogan stressed that all countries must fulfill the pledges made at Tokyo donors’ conference on April 25 and said the group must ensure rapid implementation of projects in the areas of health and education.
He termed the February 18, 2008 general elections a new era for Pakistan as it has paved the way for strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in the country.
Prime Minister Erdogan said Pakistan has covered lots of ground in terms of its relations with Afghanistan in the last two years.
Erdogan stated the cooperation between Pakistan and Turkey was not limited to bilateral ties but covers a much broader ground.
He described the tripartite, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan arrangement initiated by Ankara as a “robust process” and recalled that three meetings in this regard have helped resolve the misunderstandings.
Erdogan said a parliamentary dimension to this process was also being implemented and members of foreign relations committees of the parliament of the three countries have already met at Ankara a few months back.
Turkish leader recalled the joint political declaration signed on Sunday and said it would enable the two countries further strengthen their ties in all areas.
“We will particularly strive to accelerate our economic and trade relations and Inshallah we will raise our trade volume up to $2 billion by the end of 2012,” he said amidst thumping of desks by members of the Senate and the National Assembly.
Erdogan, who is also leading a delegation of Turkey’s leading businessmen, said they have had extensive discussions with their Pakistani counterparts to boost cooperation in joint ventures, infrastructure development, transportation and agriculture sectors.
“We are working together in all economic realms ranging from transportation, infrastructure to energy lines and banking to development projects and defense industry projects,” the Turkish Prime Minister stated.
He went on to say that the two countries have taken a major step forward in rail road transportation and the first train that departed on August 14 from Islamabad arrived in Istanbul via Tehran in 14 days.
He said there was a need to increase flights between the two countries to serve as an “air bridge” besides making efforts for enhancing maritime transportation. He said the two countries were also cooperating at various international fora including ECO, D-8 and the OIC.
Prime Minister Erdogan paid rich tributes to former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and described her as one of the most distinguished leaders of not only Pakistan but the whole world.
He said the Turkish Grand National Assembly adopted a joint declaration to express its deep condolences and solidarity to the people of Pakistan over her martyrdom on December 27, 2007.
He fondly recalled that late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in his last letter to his beloved daughter mentioned the grandeur of Istanbul, a city where East meets West.
“Without any hesitation, I should state a fact...Istanbul, as much as being a Turkish city also belongs to Pakistanis. We too feel at home in Islamabad...in every corner of Pakistan.”
Prime Minister Erdogan said relations between Pakistan and Turkey were unique.
“The deep affinity and respect between the peoples of Turkey and Pakistan as well as solidarity between us have hardly any other examples across the world,” he added.
The Turkish Prime Minister recalled the deep historical ties between the two nations and said “we owe gratitude to the people of Pakistan. How can we forget the support that Muslims of the Indian subcontinent provided during our war of independence?”
He also mentioned Iqbal who in his poetry mentioned with respect the achievement of Mustafa Kemal Pasha.
“This is the reason why Turkey considers Pakistan’s successes as its own. Pakistan’s problems are Turkey’s problems. We regard your happiness as ours and your agonies as ours,” he said as the National Assembly hall resounded with thumping of desks by the parliamentarians.
Erdogan said it was an honor for him to address the joint sitting of Pakistani parliament that has the Muslim world’s first ever woman speaker.
The galleries, occupied by the three services chiefs, diplomats and elite of the city, listened intently to the address of Turkish leader who holds a special place in the hearts of people of Pakistan.