Strong democratic system in Pakistan vital for regional peace: Erdogan

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said a strong democratic system in Pakistan was vital for regional peace.
The Turkish prime minister, who is in Pakistan on a three-day official visit, said in his address to the joint sitting of parliament that there was a heavy responsibility on the nation’s parliamentarians who were striving hard for democracy and to help solve the longstanding problems of the masses. He told the packed Parliament House that a strong democratic system in Pakistan could lead to an equally strong economic system that could benefit its people. Erdogan said democracy had a long history of struggle and the way to achieve the goal was neither easy nor simple, as it always required persistent struggle.
The Turkish PM was highly appreciative of the role the Pakistani parliamentarians were playing to make the country strong and prosperous. In his extempore address in Turkish, translated into Urdu by an interpreter, Erdogan said the real role of the opposition was not to criticise the government, merely for the sake of criticism, but to point out the ills that need to be corrected. He said it was for the young generation of the country to come forward and participate in the national democratic process to make the system stronger.
He also spoke of the deep historic ties between the two countries that “have withstood the test of times”. He vowed to stand by Pakistan through the thick and thin and to work together to further deepen their multifaceted ties. He said Pakistan was Turkey’s old friend and he felt extreme satisfaction in addressing the joint sitting for the second time.
Erdogan praised National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, the first female speaker of the Muslim world. Erdogan said the people of Turkey could never ever forget the role played by the Pakistani nation, who even starved to join in the struggle for the liberation of the Turk people. He said the relationship of deep friendship and respect was unprecedented.
“I feel completely at home when I am in Pakistan, it’s like being back in the family,” he added. He hoped the High Level Cooperation Council that would be meeting on Tuesday, would strengthen trade and commercial ties between the two countries. He said the series of meetings in that regard had been fruitful and stressed enhancing their air, sea and land links for mutual benefit. Edrogan also hoped that the defence cooperation between the two countries would get stronger and people-to-people contacts and ties at the level of their business communities and youth would be enhanced.
The Turkish prime minister stressed the need for deepening the multifaceted ties with Pakistan in the days ahead for the prosperity of the people of the two countries. Erdogan also noted the huge sacrifices rendered by Pakistan while combating terrorism in recent years. “We understand your pain and will continue to stand by you in the days ahead.”
He assured that Turkey and Pakistan would stand together in the fight against terrorism.