Turkish president calls for international support for Afghanistan

"The bundle of issues Afghanistan is dealing that included terrorism, extremism, human and drug smuggling cannot be solved by a single country alone. These issues are the major obstacles against a stable and prosperous future Afghanistan deserves to build and they cannot be solved without the help of Afghanistan's friends and partners," Abdullah Gul told the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace.  The one-day conference in Istanbul brings together leaders and diplomats in a bid to boost security and economic development in Afghanistan. Gul said international solidarity for Afghanistan would strengthen the country's efforts to overcome its problems at a time when it passed through a critical period.            "A sincere regional solidarity is essential to make Afghanistan a country that is integrated economically and politically with the international community and that can generate its own security, prosperity and stability," Gul said.     The Turkish president said the international support the Afghan government received would serve not only in regional security and prosperity but also in the cause of global peace.