India, Turkey to sign three accords

The two sides will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for establishment of mechanism for political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries, a senior External Affairs Ministry official told reporters today.

Another MoU extending cultural exchange programme between the two countries would be firmed up. A joint statement would be issued at the conclusion of the visit focusing on future orientation of Indo-Turkish relations, he said.

New Delhi, he said, views this as a “very important visit” that could pave the way for further consolidation of bilateral ties.

Turkey is also regarded as a potential partner and “valuable ally” in India’s fight against cross-border terrorism and obscurantism, the official said.

A business delegation is accompanying the Turkish leader for the fourth meeting of the Indo-Turkish Joint Business Council to discuss steps for further enhancing economic and trade ties.

Ecevit will hold wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on regional, international and issues of mutual concern. He will call on President K R Narayanan and Vice President Krishan Kant besides meeting senior ministers and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

He will be conferred an honorary degree of D.Litt by Visva Bharati at Shantiniketan. He will also address business and industry leaders of the two countries at a meeting organised by FICCI.

The official said Ecevit’s forthcoming visit was expected to provide a “strong impulse” to the strengthening of Indo-Turkish cooperation, particularly in the economic and commercial spheres.

He said the visit, the first Prime Ministerial one after a gap of 12 years, reaffirmed the cultural affinity between the two peoples, to which Ecevit’s personal contribution has taken the form of translation into Turkish language of Bhagavat Gita and Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali’.