President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain hailed the “strong” bilateral relations with Turkey, saying they will not be affected by any changes in the political system.
In a special interview with Anadolu Agency, Hussain said: “The relations between Turkey and Pakistan […] cannot be described in words. It is a very special type of relationship between our two nations.”
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has taken the presidential oath of office to become the Republic of Turkey's first president under its new governmental system.Erdogan took the oath on Monday in the capital Ankara, at the Grand National Assembly, chaired by Acting Parliament Speaker Durmus Yilmaz.Erdogan's re-election at the June 24 polls marked Turkey's transition to an executive presidential system of government, doing away with the prime minister's post, among other changes.Erdoğan won an absolute majority in the presidential election with 52.5 percent of the vote, according to Turkey’s Supreme Election Council (YSK).Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Erdoğan said: "Everything was good in front of the nation, I hope it will be better in the future."Lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) stood up, as is customary, during Erdogan’s swearing-in, while opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Good (IYI) Party lawmakers did not.Also, CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu did not attend the ceremony.Erdoğan is due to announce his new Cabinet under Turkey's presidential system at 9.30 p.m. (GMT1830).- Road to taking a new presidencyWith roots in the Black Sea province of Rize, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born in Istanbul on Feb. 26, 1954.In 1981, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Marmara University’s Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences.In 1985, he was elected the Istanbul provincial head of the Welfare Party, founded in 1983, and that same year he became a member of the party’s Central Executive Board.In the local elections of March 1994, Erdogan was elected mayor of Metropolitan İstanbul.In 2001, Erdoğan established the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with his colleagues and was elected the party’s founding general chair by its Council of Founders.In the November 2002 general elections, the AK Party became Turkey’s sole ruling party with a two-thirds majority in parliament.Taking the prime minister’s office in March 2003, Erdoğan implemented a number of reforms of crucial importance, such as the removal of six zeros from Turkey’s currency, restoring stature to the Turkish lira, and a considerable increase in the national income per capita.In addition to his fruitful initiatives -- hailed as a turning point in the country's history -- in its bid to join the EU, Erdoğan has taken significant steps towards resolving the Cyprus problem and developing better relations with many countries through his active foreign policy and busy series of visits and contacts.Erdoğan, as AK Party chair, won a great victory in the July 2007 general elections, and established Turkey’s 60th government by winning 46.6 percent of the vote as well as a vote of confidence.In the June 2011 general elections, Erdoğan, winning 49 percent of the vote, emerged triumphant and established the 61st government.Erdoğan made history in August 2014 by becoming the first president of the Republic of Turkey elected by popular vote.Following the approval of constitutional changes in an April 2017 referendum allowing the president to retain his/her party membership, that May Erdoğan was restored as AK Party chairman by a vote at its third Extraordinary Congress.This year, in the elections held on June 24, Erdoğan won an absolute majority in the presidential polls with 52.5 percent of the vote.As Turkey officially shifted into a presidential government system following Erdoğan’s victory in the elections, he is Turkey's first leader under the presidential system.Erdoğan arrives at Turkish parliament for presidential inauguration22 heads of states to attend Erdoğan's inaugurationTurkish president to take oath, announce Cabinet Monday
Erdoğan takes presidential oath of the office
Hussain arrived in Ankara to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“These relations are based on heritage, culture, religion and they are very strong bonds. I think that with the passing of time, these relations will grow.”
During his interview, Hussain congratulated Erdogan, calling him "a brother".
“I hope and I pray for the prosperity and welfare of the Turkish nation and the future," he said.
The June 24 vote marked Turkey's transition to an executive presidential system of government, doing away with the prime minister's post, among other changes.
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain arrives at Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Turkey on July 08, 2018. He is to attend Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Complex on Monday. 
Pakistani President arrives in Ankara to attend Erdogan's inauguration
Hussain said: “I think they [the relations] don’t change with the changes in the political system and other changes […] anywhere on the globe.”
“The relations between our two countries are on very strong bonds. It doesn’t matter what happens in the world and what changes there are," he added.
The Pakistani leader also expressed hopes that relations in politics, defense, education and trade sectors would further improve.
“I hope that, in the future, we will be enhancing trade relations because this is very important. Turkey is a very important country of this region, doing very good in the economics field. We would like to have exchanges of our products with the Turkish products."
Defense cooperation
Referring to Turkey’s recent move to sell corvette ships to Pakistan, he said: “It is a remarkable thing that we are getting this equipment [corvette ships] from Turkey. Turkey and Pakistan have been doing these things for a very long time.”
Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said on Thursday that Turkey would sell four corvette ships to Pakistan Navy after winning a tender.
Hussain said Turkey and Pakistan would be very close to each other and cooperate in different sectors.
A bilateral dialogue group was established in 2003 to suggest policies and unfolding plans for defense collaboration between the two countries.
In 2016, Turkey had gifted 34 T-37 aircraft and their spare parts to Pakistan.
TIKA’s activities
In his remarks, the Pakistani president also praised Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA)’s operation in his country.
He said: “TIKA was very active in providing help to the affected people in Pakistan [during earthquakes and floods]. TIKA has established many schools in Pakistan and one hospital has also been established by TIKA.”
He continued: “TIKA is doing a wonderful job to help our Pakistani people wherever something is needed."
SCO membership
Pakistan would welcome Turkey with joy if it becomes a member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Hussain said.
“I think the organization will get the benefit when Turkey becomes a member of SCO […]. Strategically, I think Turkey will be helping the SCO in a very nice way.”
The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organization established in 2001. Originally it included Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Last year, India and Pakistan joined the organization. Besides, Iran and Afghanistan currently have observer status in the SCO.