NIAMEY
Prime Minister R.Tayyip Erdogan was presented Niger's order of state last night at a dinner given by President Mahamadou Issoufou who said Turkey is a role model for the Islamic world.
"I accept the order of state not for my own but as a symbol of my love and respect for my country, nation and history, on the first visit to Niger at the level of prime ministers" said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon being presented with the order of state.
Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou presented the order of state at the dinner he gave in honor of Erdogan.
"You are the representatives of modernizing of Islam. Turkey is a role model for the Islamic world" said President Issoufou while presenting the order of state to Erdogan.
Stating that a 450 kilometer-long double lane road connecting Niamey and Istanbulewa was to be built, Erdogan said, "My dear brother Mr.Issoufou told me a single lane road would be enough, but we said 'no' because we are used to building double lane roads."
Following Erdogan's speech Issoufou thanked Erdogan and said that the 450 kilometer-long Niamey-İstanbulewa road carried political importance as well as its economic and commercial importance.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, Deputy Chairmans of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Omer Celik and Numan Kurtulmus and Ak Party Group Acting President Ahmet Aydin were also present in the ceremony.
