Gul: "Turkey and Kazakhstan enjoy perfect bilateral ties in all areas"

Turkey places great importance on relations with Turkic nations of Central Asia, President Abdullah Gul told a press conference in Istanbul yesterday before leaving for an official visit to Kazakhstan at the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev. Noting that the decision has been made to meet with the leaders of Turkic countries several times a year, Gül said Turkey and Kazakhstan enjoy perfect bilateral relations in all areas. Stating that the trade volume between the two countries has reached $3 billion and that Turkish contractors have completed projects amounting to $11 billion, Gul said that during his visit, several agreements would be signed to improve the already excellent relations. Turkish educational institutions in Kazakhstan show that relations between Turkey and Kazakhstan are multidimensional, he added. Speaing to reporters en route to Kazakhstan, Gul said what Turkey is trying to do with regard to the Iranian nuclear issue is to protect its national interests, pointing to damage that Turkey may suffer from new sanctions against Iran. Asked about US insisting on pushing for further sanctions against Iran despite a nuclear swap deal that Turkey and Brazil brokered with Tehran in early last week, Gul said, "The important thing is Turkey’s national interests. We saw what the Iraqi war has costed Turkey. Some say Turkey is trying to assert itself. This isn’t true. Turkey is pursuing its national interests. " Calling the deal a confidence building step, Gul attributed US reaction to the agreement to the domestic politics in the country. In response to a question, Gul said the southeastern Anatolia or Kurdish issue, no matter how it is called, is the biggest problem of Turkey. "This issue should be solved with maturity, and terror should come to an end." President Gul was welcomed by Nazarbayev in Cimkent, and the two had a meeting there. As part of his visit, Gul will address a meeting of Turkish-Kazkah Business Forum, and will meet with Turkish businesspeople doing business in the country. Gul will also attend the inauguration of the new Turkish embassy building in Astana, and will open the Astana branch of the Yunus Emre Culture Center. Public Works and Housing Minister Mustafa Demir, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas and Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) Chairman Rizanur Meral are accompanying Gul on his Kazakhstan visit. President Gul is also scheduled to travel to the city of Turkestan to visit Hoca Ahmet Yesevi University and to attend the opening ceremony of an associated hospital.