The Eighth Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit Meeting hosted by President of Turkey, H.E. Abdullah Gül was held on February 12-13, 2014 in Ankara.

Steps which can be taken with a view to establishing sustainable peace and stability in the wide region where the three countries meet were discussed at the Summit Meeting which was held this year under the theme of “Sustainable Peace in the Heart of Asia”.

A joint statement was adopted at the conclusion of the Summit Meeting. It was expressed that the positive momentum in the bilateral relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the efforts of Pakistan and Afghanistan to build a broader relationship with strengthened trade and economic relations were welcomed.

At the joint statement in which the common resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations was reiterated, it was also noted that every effort be made to further develop the growing people-to-people contacts between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the joint projects for socio-economic development which would serve as an important asset in building mutual trust and solidarity in the region will be encouraged. It was emphasized that the international community should continue to support Afghanistan’s socio-economic development beyond 2014.

Speaking at the joint press conference President Gül recalled that the Trilateral Summit Meetings process has started in 2007, and the Eighth Summit Meeting was held in order to improve the cooperation between Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan and to ensure that significant institutions work with each other in a better way.

“We hold open, sincere and fruitful meetings concerning establishing peace in Asia, accelerating the Afghan peace process and reflecting the notion of working together between Afghanistan and Pakistan to all the institutions” said President Gül and underlined the importance of the development of economic activities among the three countries, especially between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Within the framework of the Summit Meeting, President Gül separately had a tete-a-tete with President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. Furthermore, Foreign Ministers and high-level security officials of the three countries held separate meetings.

For detailed information on the Eighth Turkey-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Summit Meeting www.tccb.gov.tr