Turkey and Georgia sign memorandum of understanding on cooperation against crime

TBILISI (A.A) - February 22, 2012 - Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin was welcomed to Tbilisi, Georgia by an official ceremony hosted by his Georgian counterpart Vano Merabishvili on Wednesday. Following a bilateral meeting, the two ministers appeared in front of the media and signed a memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Georgia to facilitate cooperation against crime. The MoU signed between Turkey and Georgia covers issues such as counter-terrorism, fight against trans-boundary crimes, fight against organized crime, illegal drug and human trafficking, and illegal migration. The MoU also includes articles on how meetings and training sessions would take place. -Press conference- Speaking at a joint press conference following the signature ceremony, Minister Sahin indicated that Turkey and Georgia shared close cooperation and brotherly relations. Our two countries have been successful in cooperating with each other by holding talks, Sahin said. The two countries have deep historic and cultural values. Turkey and Georgia are two neighbors with close cooperation and brotherly ties, Sahin noted. Turkey and Georgia cooperate in diverse fields. We have just signed an MoU in the security field. I would like to express my pleasure over the MoU, Sahin stressed. We have been warmly welcomed to Georgia. Following our talks at the Georgian Interior Ministry, we will have talks at the Justice Ministry, National Security Council and with the Georgian prime minister. I am sure that our talks on Wednesday would contribute to bilateral relations. A key country in the Caucasus, Georgia, and an Eurasian country, Turkey, will continue their relations as a model to the whole world, Sahin underlined. Minister Sahin extended an invitation to Merabishvili to visit Turkey. Georgian Minister Merabishvili thanked Sahin for the invitation. Minister Sahin later was given a tour in the Georgian Interior Ministry and received information on the works of the ministry.