Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan determined to continue cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan have expressed the determination to continue cooperation to promote peace, stability, and development in the region.

The resolve was expressed by the FMs of three countries at a Press Conference held following conclusion of the second trilateral meeting of the forum here on 13th of Jan., 2021. Talking to the journalists Shah Mahmood Qureshi stated that Pakistan enjoyed cordial terms with both Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi informed that the trio discussed matters related to trade, investment, security, connectivity, and strategic cooperation. The three also grasped at the opportunity to ponder over global and regional security environment, crimes against Muslim minority in various countries, the challenges of growing Islamophobia and Covid-19 pandemic.

Pak FM further told that the meeting exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the field of energy, environment and people to people contacts. According to him special emphasis was made on augmenting parliamentary and media exchanges among the three countries for better understanding and harmony.

Thanking Turkish and Azerbaijan counterparts for their support on the Kashmir dispute, Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the meeting expressed concerns over gross human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, prolonged military siege in IIOJK and India’s unilateral actions to change demography of the area.

Calling for resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh issue peacefully. FM said Pakistan believed that all regional and global issues should be resolved through peaceful means and in light of the relevant international laws. Speaking on the occasion Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu said Pakistan had unique space in the hearts of the people of Turkey.

Noting that both the countries support each other in difficult time, Turkish FM said that the current trade volume between the two countries is 800 million dollars which was much below than the real potential of the two countries and this volume needed to be augmented.

Mevlut Cavusoglu told that over 100 Turkish companies were currently working in Pakistan in diverse fields and Turkey was encouraging more companies to invest in Pakistan. He said both the countries were cooperating in the sector of defense production. He extended his country’s full support to the people of IIOJK and called for resolution of the Kashmir dispute as per relevant UN Resolutions.

Jeyhun Bayramov, the FM of Azerbaijan, condemned terrorism and rejected Islamophobia. He expressed the resolve to continue extending cooperation for regional peace and development. He also thanked Pakistan and Turkey for extending their full support during the second war for the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Islamabad Declaration was signed on the conclusion of the second round of trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries.