ANKARA
Turkey and Tunisia has signed a deal to establish a high level strategic cooperation council between Turkey and Tunisia in Ankara, the Turkish capital.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a joint press conference with his Tunisian counterpart Hamadi Jebali after having a tete-a-tete meeting at the HQ of Prime Ministry in Ankara.
In the beginning of the press conference, both leaders inked a deal to establish a high level strategic cooperation council between Turkey and Tunisia in order to carry the relations among both countries a step forward.
Following the signing ceremony, Erdogan said the council would hold its first meeting in Tunisia in March 2013.
Giving information about today's meeting, Erdogan said that they had exchanged of views with Jebali regarding regional and international issues during their meeting.
In regard to Turkey's support to Tunisia during the revolution in the North African country, Erdogan said, "Turkey and its people has stood by Tunisia and its people on their democracy struggle and will continue stand by them. We count Tunisia's achievements as our own achievement. In that vein, we are going to support the democratic transformation and efforts for the economic development in Tunisia."
Erdogan said that following the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, the country began making differences with its position in the Arab world.
Noting that the trade volume between Turkey and Tunisia went beyond 1 billion USD, the premier said that in the coming days the volume would rise.
Tunisian PM Hamadi Jebali, in his part, said that the relations between both countries were growing that never seen before in their histories.
"We should make efforts not only for Turkey-Tunisia relations but also for Turkey-Arab world relations. We should establish a power of balance, a new civilization terminal," said Jebali.
Recalling Ankara's efforts during the revolution in Tunisia, Jebali re-thanked Erdogan for their supports.
"Maybe, we played a leading role in Arab world as a country, but now whole world have been watching us and they expect us to be successful," he said.
