BACKGROUND NOTE ON PRESIDENT KARZAI'S VISIT TO TURKEY

BACKGROUND NOTE ON PRESIDENT KARZAI'S VISIT TO TURKEY

05.01.2006 His Excellency Hamid Karzai, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, in his speech at the inaugural session of the Afghan National Assembly, stated that `Afghanistan continues to further strengthen the deep-rooted historical relation with Turkey, and Afghanistan is pleased with Turkey's valuable assistance in Afghanistan's efforts of reconstruction and peace-building`.
In accordance with the unique historical relationship between Afghanistan and Turkey, His Excellency Hamid Karzai will pay an official visit to Turkey between 4-7 January 2006, upon the invitation of His Excellency Ahmed Necdet Sezer, the President of the Republic of Turkey.
In his official visit to Turkey, His Excellency will be accompanied by HE. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE. Prof. Dr. Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, the Minister of Finance, HE. Dr. Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatimie, the Minister of Public Health, HE. Noor Mohammad Qarqin, the Minister of Education, HE Dr. Massouda Jalal, the Minister of Women Affairs, HE. Dr. Amin Shah Hassanyar, Minister of Higher Education and HE. Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, National Security Advisor to the President.
During the course of the meeting, His Excellency Karzai and the accompanying delegation will have a high-level welcome in Turkey. Apart from the meetings between the Presidents, HE Karzai will meet with HE. Mr. Bülent Arinç, the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, HE. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, HE Dr. Abdullah Gül, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Mr. Hilmi Özkök, Commander of Turkish Armed Forces.
The Ministers will also meet their Turkish counterparts during the visit.

Historical background
Afghanistan and Turkey have stood together throughout history and they have a noble experience of facing difficulties together. During Turkey's Independence War, after the foundation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in 23rd April 1920, the first decision taken by the Assembly was to send a Turkish officer Mr. Abdurrahman Samadan to Kabul as a representative. On March 1st, 1921 Turkey and Afghanistan signed a friendship agreement. In accordance with the Agreement, Sultan Ahmed Khan has been assigned as the diplomatic representative to Turkey and presented his credentials to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic on 21 April 1921. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk raised the Afghan flag during the opening ceremony of Afghanistan's diplomatic representation in Ankara on 10 June 1921.
The 1921 Agreement was the first international treaty signed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly Government in Ankara and Afghanistan was the first Muslim country that recognized the Assembly Government. The Agreement and the assignment of Sultan Ahmed Khan were welcomed by the war-weary people of Turkey with great joy and happiness. The invaluable support extended to Turkish people by their Afghan brothers contributed vastly to their resurgence and motivation. Moreover, Afghan people supported the Turkish Independence War by sending their personal belongings including their necklaces, bracelets, rings, shoes, socks, shirts…etc. The exceptional assistance extended to the Turkish people during the abominable conditions of war is still in the hearts and minds of the Turkish people.
During the early years of the Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sent to Afghanistan military officials, experts and trainers to contribute to the development of Afghanistan in cultural, economic and military fields. King Emanullah Khan paid a visit to Turkey in 1928 and returned back to Afghanistan having been inspired from Atatürk's reforms and his efforts to shape the young Republic in accordance with contemporary values. During the visit, Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation between Turkey and Afghanistan has been signed. Later on, during the 1930s, responding to Nadir Shah's request, Turkey dispatched teachers and professors to Afghanistan in the fields of medicine, law and political sciences and assisted the establishment of basic national institutions such as school of public administration and political sciences, faculty of medicine, academy of arts, school of music, etc.
In order to strengthen regional security and contribute to the global peace, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq signed Saadabad Pact in 1937.
His Majesty the King Muhammed Zahir Shah, `Baba-i Millet`, visited Turkey between 26 August-8 September 1957. In return, then-President of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Celal Bayar visited Afghanistan between 12-22 September 1958.
Turkey's assistance to Afghanistan declined during the Second World War and later on during the era of Soviet influence which finally led to the Soviet occupation.
From 1990s onward, during the period of internal conflict, Turkey strived for the establishment of peace and stability while implementing assistance projects particularly in the humanitarian field, providing medical and educational services and shelter to the Afghan people. After the fall of Taliban regime, Turkey has extended its support to the brotherly people of Afghanistan in almost every field.
Turkish people will never forget the support extended by their brothers in Afghanistan. In this respect, Afghanistan and Turkey have a unique relationship derive its strength from a long-standing affection between two brotherly peoples, a common cultural, historical and spiritual heritage and an unshakable solidarity.
As the brothers and sisters of Afghan people, Turkey feels the moral obligation to contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of Afghanistan.
Turkey is committed to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan. Turkey wishes to see a democratic Afghanistan reinstated as an equal and venerable member of the international community, and on the way to a free, peaceful and prosperous future.

ISAF Commands
Turkey has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since its inception and later also assumed the command of ISAF II between June 2002 and February 2003. In accordance with the rotation plan adopted by the NATO, the 3rd Corps stationed in Istanbul assumed once again the command of ISAF VII between February-August 2005.
As Turkey's command in ISAF II, it was a privilege for Turkey to experience that the people of Afghanistan welcomed once again Turkish troops as their own.
Recent bilateral visits
Between 2004-2005, bilateral official visits between the two brotherly countries reached its peak. HE Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey visited Afghanistan on 20-21 April 2005. Minister of Interior, Minister of National Defense, Minister of Public Works and Settlement, Minister of Health, Minister of State in charge of Foreign Trade, Minister of State in charge of Turkish International Development and Cooperation Agency (TIKA), Commander of Turkish Armed Forces visited Afghanistan between 2004 and 2005.
His Excellency Karzai visited Turkey to attend the NATO Summit that took place in Istanbul between 28-29 June, 2004. Apart from His Excellency Karzai's visit to Turkey, Minister of Defense, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Commerce, Minister of Public Health, Minister of Women Affairs, Commander of Afghan Armed Forces visited Turkey recently.

Economic relations
The Turkish construction firms have a vast expertise on reconstruction projects and experience in Middle East, Central Asia, Russian Federation and Caucasus. After the fall of Taliban regime, Turkish construction firms started to operate in Afghanistan and contributed to the rebuilding efforts in the country. The main highways including Kabul-Salang, Kabul-Kandahar, Kandahar-Herat have been rehabilitated by the Turkish firms. The Turkish firms also share their expertise and experience with the Afghan partners.

Assistance projects
Turkey believes that another important requisite with regard to building peace and security in Afghanistan is the expeditious implementation of reconstruction projects. Turkey continues to support the reconstruction process in Afghanistan through a variety of projects mainly in the fields of health, education, vocational training, military training, agriculture and capacity building. Turkey's assistance to Afghanistan reached 22 m USD in the last three years. The Turkish Government has decided to increase the amount of assistance to 100 m USD.
In 2005, Turkey has built 7 primary, 2 high-schools, one vocational training center for women and a hospital. Currently, three hospitals and two mother and children health clinics are run by Turkish Government. Turkey also contributes to the maintenance of Atatürk Children Hospital in Kabul. In order to alleviate the water need of the Afghan people, Turkey constructed 23 water wells in the country.
After the fall of Taliban regime, more than 550 Afghan officials have attended vocational training programs in Turkey.
Turkey contributed also to the establishment of the national army and the police force of Afghanistan by lending support to relevant procurement and training programs in Turkey as well as in Afghanistan. Currently 28 officers and 23 cadets are in Turkey for training in various military institutions including the War College and Gülhane Military Hospital.
Turkey's assistance projects are conducted by Turkish International Development and Cooperation Agency (TIKA) which operates in three continents, 37 countries. TIKA, which has a vast expertise on technical assistance projects, opened its Program Coordination Office in Kabul in September 2004.

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