Remarks
by Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi at the Inauguration Ceremony of Pakistan-Turkey Joint
Commemorative Stamp issued to mark the 70th Anniversary of
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan and Turkey, 9 November
2017, Ankara
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It’s a proud moment to
for me to welcome you all to the Inauguration Ceremony of the Commemorative Stamp
jointly issued by PTT (Turkish Post, Telephone and Telegraph) and Pakistan Post
to mark the 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan
and Turkey.
The story of 70 years of
Pakistan-Turkey diplomatic relations is not an ordinary story of cooperation
and friendship; it’s a story of unparalleled, unprecedented and indissoluble relationship
of brotherhood, mutual trust, affection and selflessness.
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| Pakistan-Turkey Joint Stamp issued on 9 November to mark 140th Birthday of Allama Muhammad Iqbal as well as 70th year of Pakistan-Turkey Diplomatic Relations, Photo Pakistan Embassy Ankara |
It is a permanent
feature in our understanding of the world. Irrespective of the circumstance and
geo-political situations, Turkey and Pakistan have stood by each other and will
Inshallah always stand by each other.
Excellencies,
I, as Ambassador of
Pakistan, am extremely privileged to represent Pakistan in Turkey. I am a
direct beneficiary of the hard work and sacrifices which our forefathers made to
nurture this sacred relationship.
It is indeed a sacred
trust which has been passed down to us by our forefathers. Today, we
acknowledge, appreciate, and salute the architects of this relationship. We owe
this relationship to them.
Two of the main
architects of this relationship were Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet
of Pakistan, the philosopher of the East and Mehmet Akif Ersoy, the national
poet of Turkey.
Both of them played a
key role in reigniting the flame of self confidence and struggle against all
challenges among the people of Pakistan and Turkey.
Interestingly, they
never met each other, but they regularly maintained correspondence and drew
light from each other. They were like two candles which illuminated the way of the
Muslim Ummah in troubled times.
Their thoughts and their
convictions are still a source of inspiration for us. They left an indelible imprint
on the hearts, minds and souls of the two nations. They indeed made Pakistan
and Turkey, two countries, one nation.
The commemorative stamp
being jointly issued today is an expression of the gratitude by the younger
generations to these two great architects of the Pakistan-Turkey
brotherhood. May Allah’s blessings be
upon their souls.
Affection for each other
comes naturally to people of Pakistan and Turkey. May be it’s the traditional
spiritual connectivity between Iqbal and Rumi that connects the two people.
We deeply value and
appreciate this special heart-to-heart connection. We experience it every day
from the highest political office to the remotest village in Turkey. I hope the
same would be true for those Turks who have visited Pakistan or have interacted
with Pakistanis.
Excellencies,
During the past 70
years, Pakistan-Turkey relationship has blossomed in all fields. We have stood
by each other, supported each other, and felt the pain and compassion for each
other.
We feel other’s success
as our own achievement, and other’s weakness as our own failure. We want each
other to succeed. We believe that our futures are tied together. May Allah be
our guide and protector.
Long Live
Pakistan-Turkey Friendship
Thank you.
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