April 10, 2002

‘7’

    India and Turkey today signed a protocol concerning bilateral cooperation on legal matters. The protocol was signed by Prof. Dr. Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister for Justice, Turkey and the leader of the Turkish delegation to India and Shri Arun Jaitley, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs. After the visit of the Home Minister of India to Turkey, the Government of Turkey proposed signing of such a protocol.

    The protocol provides exchange of information on legal matters, exchange of experience and best practices in the field of justice in the two countries, mutual support for training of judges, public prosecutors and auxiliary judicial personnel, exchange of information on drafting of laws and implementation of legal provisions and cooperation in other legal and judicial matters which are of interest to both parties.

    In the year, 2000, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, for cooperation in the field of justice. The MoU includes cooperation in the field of drafting of legislation and assessment of such legislation, cooperation between the courts/justice institutions and educational institutions imparting law courses of both countries. On receipt of a similar proposal from the Government of Turkey, the Government of India responded favourably. A similar agreement with the United States of America is also under consideration of the Department of Justice.

    India and Turkey have cordial bilateral relations which dates back to the independence struggle of both the countries. They have a number of economic agreements. The signing of this protocol will further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries in the field of justice and will benefit them in the field of judicial reforms and other segments of law and justice.