MESSAGE BY H.E. MR. R. ENGIN SOYSAL, AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

I arrived in Islamabad with my family on January 2, 2007. From the very first day, just like every Turkish diplomat who served in Pakistan, we felt at home.

Pakistan is a very dear country for all Turks.

Turkish-Pakistani friendship is unique in its kind. It derives its strength from deep-rooted historical ties and a shared cultural heritage. The support and solidarity extended by the Muslims of the Subcontinent to the Turkish National Independence War is enshrined deep into the collective memory of the Turkish Nation.

The founders of modern Turkey and Pakistan, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and Muhammad Ali Jinnah are two great leaders whose visions still pave the way for our future.

It is indeed a great honor and privilege for me to represent Turkey in such a brotherly country like Pakistan.

I will work hard to deserve the friendship and solidarity of the Pakistani people.

I have presented my credentials to His Excellency Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, only one week after my arrival on January 9, 2007. This alone shows the height of strong ties so fortunately exist between our two countries.

I also had the opportunity to be part of the extremely well organized visit for the diplomatic corps to Gwadar on January 11, 2007. This visit provided me the opportunity to see, at first hand, an important and comprehensive project that offers a wide range of opportunities for foreign investors reflecting the strong dynamics of development of Pakistan.

Turkey and Pakistan are enjoying exemplary bilateral relations. Turkish companies have been accomplishing important infrastructure projects in Pakistan, contributing to its development for years. Turkey and Pakistan, both strategically located and both pivotal in their regions, need to work with more vigor and enthusiasm to manifest and mobilize the enormous potential they possess.

We need to further enhance our economic and commercial relations. I encourage the Turkish private sector to come and see Pakistan and develop their economic ties with Pakistani firms.

Turkey and Pakistan share similar concerns on most of the current international issues. They support each other on the Cyprus and Kashmir issues and also closely cooperate at various international fora.

The grief of Pakistani people after the devastating earthquake which occurred on 8th October 2005 shocked Turkey also. Every Turkish citizen felt this unprecedented agony in their harts without an exception at all. It is my firm conviction that the reaction of Turkish people and my Government to this disaster is a solid manifestation of deep affection existing between our peoples. Turkish Government and Turkish NGOs have undertaken important reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. To show our continued solidarity with the affected people of the region and also to witness the ongoing projects in this respect, I will visit the affected areas on January 25, 2007.

My predecessor Ambassador Kemal Gur has been extraordinarily active in organizing cultural events. I will do my best to continue such cultural activities as well in my term of office. I believe that the cultural dimension of our relations is particularly important for promoting the interaction between our young generations who, I'm confident, will carry the responsibility of our friendship as successfully as our previous generations have done until now.

2007 will mark the Sixtieth Anniversary of the Foundation of Pakistan as an independent country. Pakistani officials have also named 2007 the year for the promotion of tourism.

In this respect, we will have many opportunities throughout this year to celebrate Turkish- Pakistani friendship and brotherly relations.

I will do my best to travel extensively within Pakistan to discover and enjoy this beautiful country.

While I was in my native town Istanbul a few months ago, I went to several second hand bookstores, as I generally do, this time looking for some literature on Pakistan. I felt thrilled when I saw the book of Selahattin Savci, a literature teacher from Pendik Lisesi, a high school located on the Asian side of the town. The book, with a white cover and a green title ''Pakistan dil ve Edebiyati'' (Pakistan's language and literature) gives a short panorama of the rich poetry tradition of Pakistan, starting with the great poet and philosopher Dr. Muhammad Iqbal.

Every line of this book shows how deep the love and affection of this teacher was for the Pakistani people. Writing his book with such powerful emotions, this teacher actually was, and still is, the voice of the whole Turkish nation's solidarity with Pakistan.

As one of the greatest Turkish poets alive, Fazil Hüsnü Daglarca has also expressed these strong feelings towards the people of Pakistan in his lyric poem "Pakistan" published in 1951 in the collected poems "Sivasli Karinca."

We will safeguard what we have inherited from our forefathers.

I wish you all the best for the New Year.