| ISTANBUL – Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that dialogue, cooperation and respect for others’ values were their basic principles.
Gul added that the idea of clash of civilizations was not valid for Turkey and Turkey’s foreign policy.
Gul delivered a speech at the closure session of ”Istanbul Pan-Atlantic Student Summit” at Koc University in Istanbul.
Stating that half of Turkey’s population consisted of youths under the age of 25, Gul underlined the importance of NATO Youth Summit’s convening in Turkey.
Stressing that Turkey was determined to educate youths in political, economic and other fields, Gul noted that the government had a reformist structure. He added that they attached great importance to values of youths.
Gul noted that Turkey expected to start membership negotiations with the European Union (EU) at the end of 2004, stating that they knew contribution that Turkey would make to EU, hoping that EU would also comprehend it.
Stating that NATO alliance was based on democratic ideals, he said that NATO had responsibility to protect and defend common values.
Gul said that the alliance had fulfilled this task from the very beginning, stressing that it would also continue to take steps on protection of freedoms and fight against terrorism.
Foreign Minister Gul said that the alliance adopted exchanging mutually views on every issue as a principle, stating that NATO was going through an adaptation process continuously.
Stating that NATO also undertook significant tasks to improve stability in the world, Gul underlined that Turkey attached great importance to further improvement of its relations with NATO, EU and also regional countries.
Gul asked students attending NATO Youth Summit to take Turkey’s messages of peace and tolerance to their countries.
Replying to a question on their expectations after referenda held in Cyprus on April 24, Gul said that Turkey and the United Nations extended great efforts for solution of Cyprus issue.
Noting that Cyprus plan prepared by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan envisaged a two-sided but united Cyprus, Gul said that the Turkish Cypriot side accepted the plan in the referendum, but a historic opportunity was missed as the Greek Cypriot side rejected it.
”What Turkish Cypriots expect from now on is the lifting of economic embargo and travel embargo,” he said.
Stating that Turkey preserved its perspective of a lasting resolution, Gul called on western countries to keep their promises to lift embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side.
Asked what kind of things could be done to change relationship between the Islam culture and western culture for the better, Gul said the Republic of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire which had a 600 years of history attributed importance to tolerance and mutual respect.
Stressing that nobody was messing in religion and language of others and nobody was assimilated in Turkey, Gul said that it was proven with existence of worship places of three religions in Ortakoy district of Istanbul.
Gul said that Turkey would continue contributing to peace in the world and stability in the region.
Asked what kind of steps that the NATO envisaged to take for resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at Istanbul Summit, Gul said that Palestinian-Israeli problem concerned not only those two regions, but also whole region and the world.
Stressing that steps for resolution of this chronic problem would relieve firstly the region and later the world, Gul said that a road map was prepared and a broader platform beyond the NATO discussed the issue.
Gul said Turkey supported such initiatives and would exert every effort.
Asked about matters that had been discussed during his meeting with the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Gul said it was a very beneficial meeting and both sides were satisfied with the meeting.
Noting that problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia could not remain stagnant while partial progress was recorded in other problems in the region, Gul said it was a great achievement as the sides were satisfied with the meeting in Istanbul.
Stating that they would hold another meeting in New York in September, Gul added that he believed they would record progress in resolution of problems through dialogue.
Anadolu Agency: 6/30/2004 (EÖ-MS-AÖ) 30.06.2004 |
Akgün Medya