ISTANBUL (Sunatimes)- The Turkish prime minister said on Saturday [22 May] that Turkey was ready to help Somalia with training the country's police officers and army members.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan replied to questions at a joint press conference with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Istanbul.

Upon a question on the recent uranium agreement signed in Iran, Erdogan said Turkey closely monitored the activities related to Iran's nuclear programme, moreover, the Iranian parliament had expressed its support for the decisions taken and signatures laid down on the matter.

Noting that Iran would send its detailed letters to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 24 May, Erdogan said: "Despite all the negative approaches, Iran's not responding negatively is above all praises in terms of diplomacy".

Describing the step taken on the issue as a "diplomatic victory", Erdogan said nobody should hinder such victory and the international community should express its support.

Replying to a question on Turkey's training support to Somalia, Erdogan said Turkey offered certain trainings in various countries, adding it could extend a similar support for the training of Somali policemen and soldiers if required.

Upon a question on the pirate attacks off the coasts of Somalia, UN head Ban said concrete measures should be taken in order to put an end to piracy.

Ban also said that activities of pirates should definitely be punished and these criminals should be handed over to justice.

Source: Anatolia news agency