(MENAFN- Arab Times) KUWAIT CITY April 26 (KUNA): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labelled as excellent his nation's ties with the State of Kuwait calling for greater efforts to bolster further the economic and trade relations between the two sides. In an exclusive interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) President Erdogan due to visit Kuwait on April 27 (on Monday) said these bilateral ties have been based primarily on a 'joint past' explaining that the Turks and Kuwaitis share common religious and cultural values and jointly advocate regional stability and prosperity. Turkey which supported Kuwait in face of the 1990 Iraqi aggression has maintained 'the same spirit of solidarity with sisterly Kuwait' President Erdogan noted in the special interview with KUNA adding that he does not differentiate between the two countries' security and stability.
Praised
Erdogan praised His Highness the Amir's external policy of moderation also lauding his UN designation as a 'Humanitarian Leader' expressing good wishes to Kuwait also proclaimed as a 'Humanitarian Center.' 'Such an award' by the UN affirms that His Highness the Amir is a wise personality he added. On the Turkish-Kuwait commercial ties Erdogan said the trade volume reached $569 million last year affirming that Ankara would seek to increase the commercial exchanges in 2016. Political will legal grounds and necessary mechanisms for attaining such a target are available in the two countries he said noting that the 10th meeting of the joint economic commission would be held in second half of the current year.
Turkey has already formed the team that would take part in the forecast meeting he said expressing readiness to offer the Turkish experience in defense and technological industries. Elaborating on his mission in Kuwait President Erdogan said he would inquire about investment opportunities for Turkish companies and promote feasible investment chances for the Kuwaitis in his country adding that he would discuss with the top leaders regional affairs namely Yemen Palestine and Syria. He re-affirmed support for the Saudi-led 'Operation Desert Storm' in Yemen noting that the second operation dubbed 'Operation Restoration of Hope ' was very significant urging for reconciliation in the troubled country. Moreover he stressed that the Houthi militias should surrender the heavy arms and take part in the aspired political process.
President Erdogan re-affirmed Ankara's solid ties with all GCC states noting that it launched the strategic dialogue with countries of the region in 2008. Previous meetings had been held four times at this level he said adding that the fifth was scheduled in Qatar later this year. On the Syrian crisis he has confirmed that his country hosts 1.7 million Syrian refugees stating that his country has spent up to $5.5 billion for aiding them.
Turkey also hosts 300000 Iraqi refugees. He critized the internatinal community for not doing much for resolving the Syrian question. Turkish researcher in the Strategic Thinking Institute in Ankara Jahid Touz stressed here on Sunday the important role Turkey and Kuwait play in resolving the problems of the region. Touz said in remarks to KUNA today that both nations are considered as strong countries in the region and share deep-rooted relations.
He hailed the upcoming visit of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait which falls on Monday amidst the ongoing regional developments especially in Yemen Syria and Iraq as both countries share identical views and positions towards various issues.
This visit will also contribute to the exchange of military cooperation and coordination besides exchange of visits between military officials to best serve the fight against terrorism he said. Encountering the terrorist organizations specifically the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) which is considered a real threat to all counties of the region requires a military economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries he affirmed.
The bilateral relations between Kuwait and Turkey during the last three years witnessed a great boost especially in the military and economic aspects as a large number of Kuwaiti businessmen are investing in Turkey he added. The withdrawal of the US troops from Iraq left a great gap in the region and indicated that international powers are unable to fix its conflicts he mentioned. This fact obliges the region's countries to further enhance the joint cooperation particlegal ularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Turkey he added. He stressed the importance of the 'Operation Decisive storm' led by the Saudi forces against the Houthi militia in Yemen saying that such a move sends a message to the world countries that the Islamic World is capable of resolving issues of the region. The relations between Kuwait and Turkey date back to 1969 recalling an agreement over establishing diplomatic ties and representation which was later followed by opening of embassies in both nations in 1070. In year 1975 they signed a joint cultural agreement followed by an aviation cooperation agreement in 1977 and later signed an agreement on economic and industrial cooperation in 1982 then a post service agreement and later an investment encouragement and protection agreement. Following the Liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in 1991 the relations between Kuwait and Turkey witnessed a remarkable improvement as His highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah visited Ankara in November 1991 as he expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Turkish great support to Kuwait during the invasion.
Turkey condemned the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait from its early hours and considered it as a violation of the International law and legitimacy declaring its solidarity with Kuwait in its sought of regaining independence and sovereignty. Turkey also during the invasion stopped pumping oil from Iraqi wells passing through the Turkish lands. In October 1997 the former Turkish President Sulaiman Demirel visited Kuwait and held talks with His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahamd Al-Jaber Al- Sabah as they discussed bilateral relations and issues of common interest. During the visit they signed a financial agreement related to preventing double taxation besides an agreement to boost cultural cooperation. His Highness late Amir visited Ankara in 2008 and signed seven agreements in various fields besides other eight agreements. The Kuwaiti and Turkish sides signed a number of agreements during the period from 2008 to 2013 at the level of Ministries including a memorandum of understanding in exchange of expertise trainings and military cooperation as well as Joint military exercises. In 2009 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Istanbul heading the Kuwaiti delegation to the 25th conference of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) as His Highness the Amir met former Turkish President Abduallah Gul and they discussed bilateral relations and means to boost them at all levels
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