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Pakistani President Arif Alvi Addresses Exclusive to Istanbul's Anadolu Agency
By Mehmet Ozturk and Faruk Tokat
ISTANBUL
The newly elected Pakistani President, Arif Alvi, said that Turkey has a large refugee population, describing the country as a "savior" of Europe and other countries.
Alvi met exclusively with Anadolu Agency in Istanbul, where he attended the opening ceremony of Istanbul Airport, which is one of the largest airports in the world.
Alvi, close to Prime Minister Imran Khan, was elected the country's 13th president on 4 September.
He is a founding member of Pakistan's ruling Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI).
Alvi, a dentist by profession, was born in 1949 in the port city of Karachi, in the south-east of the country, two years after his family's migration to Pakistan after the end of British colonial rule.
In 2013, Alvi won the first seat in the National Assembly of Karachi, which he had retained in the last general elections on July 25.
However, the Prime Minister has nominated his party's candidate for the presidency.
QUESTION: How will the bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan progress in the coming period, especially in the new mandate, and how will bilateral relations progress further?
REPLY: There are a few things I want to share. Turkey and Pakistan both pursue an independent foreign policy, do not depend on any other country and respect their own national interests in the region.
The two countries have similar experiences, Pakistan in the context of Afghanistan and Turkey in the case of Syria. Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees since the 1980s. At one point, we were hosting 3.5 million refugees (Afghans).
Turkey is in a similar position as it hosts a large number of Syrian refugees. We have found that the world sometimes becomes indifferent to the well-being of refugees and that host countries are left to fend for themselves, even though these people have become refugees because of the global agenda of powerful countries.
Things could have been better if such wars were not there. Now, what is happening because of these wars and proxy fighting, there are people living in poverty.
They face hunger and as a result they begin to migrate. Turkey has become a savior that essentially protects Europe from refugee migration. Turkey is home to a large refugee population.
The world is not helping, but ignoring the plight of these refugees as countries like ours are left with the social impact of these atrocities happening on our borders.
Similarly, Pakistan and Turkey have excellent relations, and Pakistan has always defended Turkey's position on Cyprus historically. Turkey's position on Cyprus is Pakistan's position.
Turkey is on our side on the Kashmir issue. Both countries support [each other]on all international forums. Turkey has supported the group of nuclear suppliers.
I myself was an elected councilor of the World Dental Federation and I visited Turkey once, when there was a conference. The Turkish and Pakistani dental federations have always voted together on all issues, whatever the issue.
So I think these links need to be strengthened by good trade. Fraternal relationships are old. Starting from the Khilafat movement at the beginning of the 20th century.
My father worked there. Many other people, like Muhammed Ali Jouhar, Maulana Muhammed Ali and Shaukat Ali, worked for the Khilafat movement. And I think it started the appreciation between us two.
In addition, Pakistan and Turkey have a similar position on UN reform. We are part of the group Uniting for Consensus (UfC). However, our commercial links need promotion.
QUESTION: In this regard, does the new Pakistani government plan to support Turkish investors? Will it take action to restart negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA)?
REPLY: Yes, the two countries are trying to sign a free trade agreement and seven rounds of discussions have taken place. I am here to ask my brother Mr. Recep Tayyip [Erdogan]His Excellency, the President of Turkey, on the question of the conclusion of the negotiation as soon as possible. So a very structured trade can begin. Turkey and Pakistan are facing economic challenges, the devaluation of the Turkish lira and the devaluation of the Pakistan rupee have been depreciated. We depend on each other rather to improve our economies.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. We have a burning problem here at home that we call FETO. The Turkish public has trouble understanding why Pakistan has not taken a lot of action against the structure of the FETO in Pakistan and especially the handing over of schools despite all the historical relationships that your Excellency has mentioned. Why has not there been a lot of progress in this area?
REPLY: In my riding, where I was a member of Parliament, there were schools affiliated with the FETO. However, taking into account the sensitivities of the Turkish government, the administration of these schools was suspended and transferred to a desired entity by the Turkish government.
So, I can badure you that these are all misunderstandings. This happens sometimes in Pakistan when, when action is taken, the injured person goes to court and the government has to obey court decisions, although the government defends its decision at hearings.
Judicial decisions take time, but as far as I'm concerned, we have a clear decision to hand over these schools to the Turkish authorities.
I have witnessed the intrigues suffered by the AK party and by Turkish democratic institutions.
Pakistan has given unconditional support to Turkey during the 2016 military coup. The Pakistan Parliament has adopted resolutions in favor of Turkish democracy and its leaders. Members of the parliamentary solidarity delegation of representatives of all parties went to Turkey to show our support for Turkey.
I've always admired President Erdogan. While the AK Party and its government worked for the people, the people stood behind them. People stood in front of tanks. It's a lesson for everyone in the Muslim world. Especially in emerging democracies, if the services are for the benefit of the people, honestly, people feel that you are the true leaders and that you are leading the country against crises; people are at your side. I admire President Erdogan and the AK party for this kind of services.
QUESTION: How do you evaluate the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan? Of course, they are neighbors. Can Turkey play a role in strengthening the bilateral relations of Pakistan and Afghanistan?
REPLY: Yes, I think Turkey played a very positive role in promoting peace in Afghanistan. The resurgence of the foreign policy of Pakistan and Turkey – I call it resurgence – presupposes that we must fend for ourselves, understand that we should not be dictated, that is, our relations with other countries should be based on dignity and the demands of peace.
Pakistan can play a very important role in the Afghan crisis. What we have been saying for 15 years is that the Taliban should be taken into account, at that time there will be peace. The US government has begun the same process. And the Pakistani government can play a very important role in bringing about peace.
Our interest in Afghanistan is only peace. We have no other interest. We believe that it is a Muslim country right next to our borders. We think that it has suffered greatly from the invasion of the Soviet Union, the expulsion of the Taliban, then the bombing, etc. It creates human misery for some reason.
We also believe that our relations with Iran must be good, it is also our brother country. It should stay good. China is also our friend at the border, the CPEC, the Sino-Pakistani economic corridor and other processes linking this region (under) the One Belt One Road process to the port of Gwadar.
Turkey can invest a lot in Pakistan by developing its tourism. I think that in Pakistan you will find the most beautiful places. For example, Lake Attabad in the Hunza Valley: it is a natural and beautiful lake.
Pakistan can seek tourism especially from Turkey and Turkish aid to tourism development, Turkish investments in Pakistan in the energy sector, railways and infrastructure. Turkey can do a lot in the minerals and mining sector and so on. Turkey has a lot of experience, it can do a lot.
QUESTION: Does the Pakistani side make efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table?
REPLY: Yes, Pakistan has recently put a lot of effort into this. releases of prisoners have also taken place.
QUESTION: [What about] Mullah Baradar [co-founder of Afghan Taliban] who Islamabad recently released?
REPLY: Yes, Mullah Baradar. Peace can only be achieved in Afghanistan by bringing everyone to the table with understanding.
You can not bring peace by simply insisting that there should be a ceasefire. There should be confidence-building measures for peace. The ceasefire of Ramadan and during the Eid festivities, I think this also indicates to the Afghan people that peace can be quickly established. Peace is what can change their lives.
If you pbad, you can understand the pain of the [Afghan] people. Hundreds, thousands [were]killed in this war, so that people can not bear this burden forever.
QUESTION: Is Pakistan looking for other partners in the CPEC? Has China raised any objections to inclusion in CPEC-related projects, particularly in the Gwadar oil refinery? What are your expectations of Turkey vis-à-vis the CPEC?
REPLY: The Sino-Pakistani economic corridor started with the road from north to south until Gwadar. It started as a movement design with respect to trade.
If you remember when we [Pakistan and Turkey] were together at the RCD [Regional Cooperation for Development established by Turkey, Pakistan and Iran in 1964]there was a RCD highway concept coming from Pakistan, from Iran to Turkey.
So when you build a highway, this highway is for people and goods. The CPEC is also a highway for people and goods. With this highway, we are looking for developments along this route and the transportation of goods.
With regard to these developments, all partners in Pakistan are also partners of the CPEC. There is no formal partnership organization but it is a bilateral situation. In many companies and industries, Turkey can help us, as I said, to improve trade relations between Pakistan and Turkey, an investment area for Turkey, a business sector for Turkey and Turkish businessmen in Pakistan.
This is cementing relations, I think this is urgent, we will welcome Turkey's participation in the CPEC corridor.
QUESTION: Another question concerning the unresolved problem of the Islamic world, despite the participation of the United Nations Security Council. The day before yesterday, it was the "Black Kashmir Day". How does Pakistan propose to resolve the conflict in Kashmir? Is it considering taking steps to normalize relations with India? Is it likely that negotiations resume between the two countries?
REPLY : Pakistan believes that only peace and negotiations can lead to a solution on Kashmir, based on UN resolutions. In Kashmir, there are so many atrocities that blindly use pellet guns that blind people. There is a total blockage of news. Whatever happened in Palestine, in Gaza, similar events are taking place in Kashmir. Under the pretext of terrorism, these countries are suppressing the aspirations of peoples who want the liberation of their lands. Such a struggle is welcome all over the world, but wherever the situation of Muslims is at stake, the world turns its head.
I think that the Palestinian question should be resolved on the basis of pre-1967 borders, and the issue of Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of UN resolutions. I appreciate the Turkish support that has always heard the voice of the oppressed people of Kashmir occupied by India.
Turkey has played a good role with regard to Palestine. Similarly, Pakistan has played its proper role with regard to the Cyprus issue.
As soon as the current government came to power, the Prime Minister of Pakistan wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of India. He first agreed to "let the Foreign Ministers meet," but this invitation was later rejected.
QUESTION: What is the reason for the rejection?
REPLY: Personally, I think it's Indian politics and the Indian Prime Minister was preparing elections and the hatred against Pakistan has increased, some politicians are sometimes trapped in their own slogan. Their own slogans catch them and prevent them from moving forward.
This was the best opportunity. The best thing the new government can do is offer this: "Let's go and let's talk about it." If you do not want to talk because of this excuse or excuse, I think it's a very bad service rendered to the people of Kashmir by India. the intransigence not to talk about problems.
In fact, whenever the discussion takes place, they look for other problems – sometimes not to talk. And then, the Indian government continues to insist that "it must be only bilateral discussions". You talk about bilateral discussions but you are not leading this discussion. So, I think that's what happened.
QUESTION: Do you see a change in the Trump Administration's policy towards Pakistan?
REPLY: I think Pakistan insists that the US administration and Pakistan want peace in Afghanistan.
Second, Pakistan is interested in a dignified relationship that should also be the goal of the US government. Pakistan is interested in a relationship that leads to more peace rather than more confrontations.
I believe that there is a reset of our relationship. I think that a meeting of the Pakistani Foreign Minister with his American counterpart is auspicious.
We both want peace. Maybe our views are slightly different but they can converge for peace. I think it's a good relationship.
QUESTION: How should Muslim countries react to the relocation of the Israeli embbady to Jerusalem by the United States?
REPLY: Pakistan, like the entire Muslim world, did not appreciate this process. The question of Palestine was complicated after the transfer of the US embbady to Jerusalem. Because, until 1967 and the position of Islamic organizations and countries has always been that Jerusalem is a shared international city.
It may be the capital of Palestine and Israel. You can not delete people long.
A Palestinian is born and in five or ten years, they begin to collect stones for striking. How long can it last?
Even in Israel, there are good voices that seek the fact that the confrontation of these issues will not lead to peace, and if you do not have peace at the border, you can raise your walls but you can not to have peace.
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