October 29, 2008	Wednesday	Shawwal 29, 1429

ANKARA, Oct 28: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that leaders of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan would meet in Turkey very soon to discuss peace and security in the region.

“A second summit is being planned, but no firm date has yet been set. We have sent alternative dates to the parties. We are expecting their response,” Mr Erdogan said at a joint news conference with his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani.

In April 2007, Ankara hosted fence-mending talks between then president Pervez Musharraf and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, in which the two leaders agreed to step up joint efforts against terrorism and take confidence-building measures.

Mr Erdogan said Turkey was happy to play an active role for peace in the region.

The leaders of the two countries pledged to strengthen their traditionally warm ties and underlined their commitment to fighting terrorism, the Anatolia news agency reported.

“We have no problems when it comes to the military, economic or cultural fields... We have a common will and determination to further advance our bilateral ties,” Mr Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader said he and Mr Gilani had agreed to rapidly increase their trade volume to one billion dollars and recalled that Turkey had submitted a bid in a Pakistani tender to modernise the country’s F-16 fighter jet fleet.

The two sides are also working on a defence agreement, Mr Erdogan said without providing details.

The Turkish prime minister thanked Pakistan for its support in the election of Turkey as a member of Security Council and said there had been unanimity of views between the two countries on all regional and international issues.

Mr Gilani underlined both countries’ determination to fight terrorism and said that his country was working with Afghanistan to resolve tensions over violence by Taliban militants over their porous border.

The prime minister said that Pakistan had opened a new chapter of constructive engagement with Afghanistan on multiple tracks with a view to restoring a climate of trust and confidence between the two countries.

He thanked the efforts and support extended by Turkey in dealing with the issue of extremism and terrorism and maintaining peace and security in the region.

Mr Gilani will attend a state ceremony on Wednesday to mark Turkey’s Republic Day on October 29, before going to Istanbul for an international conference organised by the World Economic Forum.

Earlier, on his arrival at the Prime Minister Secretariat, Mr Gilani was given a warm welcome.

A smartly turned-out contingent presented a guard of honour.

The prime minister was introduced to members of the Turkish cabinet while Turkish prime minister was introduced to members of the Pakistani delegation.

Prime Minister Gilani also visited the mausoleum of Turkish leader Ataturk, laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum and paid homage to the Turkish leader.

The prime minister and members of the delegation observed one-minute silence at the tomb of Mr Ataturk.

While writing his remarks in the visitors’ book, the prime minister paid rich tribute to the Turkish leader.—Agencies