India and Turkey on Tuesday unveiled a joint declaration on terrorism which New Delhi considers a breakthrough because in it, Ankara has agreed to “recognise the need” for the conclusion of the India-initiated Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).
During the ongoing visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gul, both countries also agreed to work towards developing an action plan with timelines and specific measures after taking into account the existing structures of cooperation, such as the Joint Working Group against Terrorism.
India considers Turkey’s acquiescence on the need for a CCIT as significant because it is a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which has “locked up” the pact for over 13 years due to differences in the definition of the scope of application of the convention, said Government sources.
“Turkey is a significant actor on the world stage and a leading member of the OIC. Therefore, Turkey’s commitment to the convention is of significance. Here is a prominent member of the OIC stating that they would work with us [on the convention],” added the sources.
India feels that the CCIT, once finalised and adopted, will be an important contribution against terrorism as it will signal that the international community’s will to fight this problem is “complete and unshakeable.” The OIC has not been willing to accept that the armed forces should be excluded from the convention.
In high-level meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Mr. Gul also discussed the possibility of both sides working towards a free trade agreement by agreeing to examine the report of a study group set up for the purpose. On the energy front, India said it was awaiting the technology and feasibility reports from other countries involved in the project.
“There was a time when the foreign policy orientation of both countries was divergent. Now, there is a commitment and determination to give an impetus to the bilateral relations in all its contours. Consequently, there have been a number of high-level visits to focus on different aspects of the political, economic and commercial, diplomatic and cultural aspects,” the sources said.
India and Turkey also issued a joint declaration in the field of science and technology to explore possibilities of working together in mutually identified projects in areas such as telecommunication, computerisation, information technology, space research, biotechnology and environmental technology.
