Trilateral Summit

The 8th Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit Held at the Çankaya Presidential Palace.

President Abdullah Gül hosted dinner in honor of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan prior to the Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also attended the dinner held at the Çankaya Presidential Palace.

President Abdullah Gül separately welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. Afterwards, President Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan separately had a tete-a-tete with President Karzai and Prime Minister Sharif. The four leaders later had a meeting.

STEPS TO BE TAKEN FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND STABILITY

After the family photo was taken, President Gül hosted a luncheon in honor of President Karzai and Prime Minister Sharif. The parties are discussing the steps that should be taken toward the establishment of sustainable peace and stability in the region where the three countries meet at the 8th Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit, the theme of which is “Sustainable Peace in the Heart of Asia”

“AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN WILL CONTINUE TO SEE TURKEY’S SUPPORT”

Afterwards, the Broad Participation Session of the 8th Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit has been held at the Çankaya Presidential Palace. President Gül delivered a speech at the plenary session during which he declared that “this Trilateral Summit process is a tangible demonstration of our common will and sincere efforts toward the further development of the quintessential relations between Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan in such an important platform. Our studies are based on political dialogue, security, cooperation and development parnership. Our cooperation takes its strength from the existing amity and friendship among our peoples.” The trilateral relations that Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan enjoy are historic bonds from people to people and from hearts to hearts.

The 8th summit, the President emphasized, has reached a much more comprehensive and a higher level than the first one held in 2007 and he noted that thanks to this mechanism, they have established agreement to a great extent as to the issues concerning the three countries and pertinent to the confidence and dialogue among their institutions. This is the biggest gain they have obtained since the Summit process was launched.

SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN THE HEART OF ASIA

President Gül continued as follows: “We are going through a critical period in terms of adding to the gains we have achieved thus far. Pakistan passed a very significant democracy test last year. The consolidation stage of this process is yet to be over. We believe that Pakistan will demonstrate the same achievement in its economic development and its struggle against terrorism as well. As for Afghanistan, 2014 is of great importance indeed. In April, the presidential elections will be held there. As of the end of the year, the ISAF mission will end and the retrograde movement of the international military troops will also be completed. Thus, a period which full of successes and upheavals will be over with the support of the international community. Our Afghan siblings will begin to take steps to fortify the stability of their country in union and solidarity. The successful completion of this process by Afghanistan will determine whether the gains it has achieved in the last 13 years will be permanent. The challenges Afghanistan faces in this process have such an extent that they can influence this broad geography, called ‘the heart of Asia’ and even beyond. Permanent peace cannot be reached in this broad geography without the establishment of wellbeing and stability of Afghanistan is achieved. Likewise, without the cooperation of its neighbors and friends, it is impossible to make stability and security in its real sense predominant in Afghanistan. This is the very reason why we have determined the theme of the 8th Trilateral Summit this year as ‘Sustainable Peace in the Heart of Asia’. Afghanistan and Pakistan will continue to see the support of their sister country, Turkey, with all its sincerity during this difficult period and in the future as well.”

RESOLUTENESS TO PROGRESS ON THE BASIS OF COMMON VISON

President Gül further reiterated that within the framework of the Trilateral Summit Process and the Istanbul Process, which was launched in 2011 and which comprises all the countries in the region, these three sister countries will continue to serve as the best examples of regional dialogue and ownership. “As statesmen, we have the responsibilit to progress resolutely by ensuring the further advancement of the Trilateral Summit process on the basis of our common vision which is based on cooperation and partnership. In this vein, I would like to welcome my brothers President Karzai and Prime Minister Sharif once again.”

A joint declaration was issued following the Broad Participation Session of the 8th Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit.