In the backdrop of a coup and recent terror attacks, Turkey’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday briefed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj about the operations of Fethullah Gulen-led organisation (FETO) and his role in the attempted coup.
Since Turkey’s diplomats have already taken up the issue of banning FETO’s operations in India, Cavusoglu focused on explaining Swaraj about the alleged terror-related activities by Gulen.
Sources said Swaraj and Cavusoglu also exchanged views on the regional developments, particularly in West Asia, where the security situation has become alarming from the perspective of both the countries. On the economic front, priority was given on convening the next session of Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and the Ministers agreed that the JEC has been a very useful bilateral mechanism to discuss ways for increasing bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
According to sources, India’s application for the membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group also featured in the discussions and Turkey assured its support for this as it had earlier for India’s membership of MTCR.
On Friday, Swaraj also met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs of Nepal Bimalendra Nidhi, who is visiting India as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s Special Envoy. Nidhi shared vision and priorities of the new Government which includes implementation of the Constitution to promote political stability, taking the Constitution and peace process forward by addressing all issues through a process of consensus building between all major political parties, and focusing on post-earthquake reconstruction efforts and economic development.
Special Envoy Nidhi appreciated India’s goodwill and support to the peace process and economic development in Nepal, and emphasised the need to strengthen bilateral partnership in all areas, including development co-operation.
Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, Swaraj held talks with her Venezuelan counterpart Delcy Rodriguez, who was in New Delhi to hand over an invitation for India’s participation in the 17th NAM Summit to be held in Margarita Island, Venezuela on 17-18 September. Swaraj underlined the importance India attaches to NAM and confirmed country participation. The two ministers also agreed to move ahead for an early finalization of various agreements in different areas, including Extradition Treaty, Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA), Mutual legal Assistance Treaty (MlAT) on Criminal Matters, Air Services Agreement etc.