USA Turkish Times - Gul calls territorial integrity of Iraq

Gul calls territorial integrity of Iraq

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday underlined the importance of the maintaining the territorial of Iraq, saying," A separated Iraq would cause unpredictable consequences for the whole region." Gul, at his speech at the opening session of the foreign ministers meeting of the Arab League in Cairo, stated that a strong central government was important in building peace and stability. Stating that the oil-rich city Kirkuk is a home to Arabs, Turks and Kurds, he said that the city is the small microcosm of Iraq. He added that it is important to establish national consensus over the Kirkuk issue.

"This is the day to show our solidarity to Iraq," he said.

Gul also expressed his pleasure for invited to the Arab League meeting and thanked the Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit.

Stressing the importance of the relations between Turkey and the Arab League, Gul said he believed the Turkish-Arab forum would soon convene and be institutionalized.

Underlining that the Middle East was going through to most troubled period in its history, Gul said that it was not possible to solve the problems in the region separately. He added the Palestinian issue which lay at the center of the problems, was creating pessimism and expectancy of fundamentalism in the region.

Gul expressed his happiness over the consensus that was reached in Mecca and thanked King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt for their contribution. Gul said he believed a national unity government to be founded in Palestine would be an important step in the solution of the problem.

Stating that the new government should attach priority to the interests of the Palestinian people, Gul underlined the need for the international community to support this government.

Gul also commented on the situation in Lebanon and said, "We are ready to do everything in our capability to help build stability in Lebanon."

Stating that sectarian disputes in the region were causing unrest, Gul said these kinds of disputes would have negative consequences.

He added that they would work towards establishing cooperation between Turkey and the Arab League that would set an example.

Turkish Foreign Minister Gul met on Saturday Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa and discussed the regional developments.

Gul, at a joint conference after his meeting with Moussa, stated that they work to establish a platform to boost relations between Arab League and Turkey in every area.

"They have decided to support Turkey's candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. I would like to express gratitude of Turkey and Turkish people for this," Gul said.

Moussa said that they have earlier announced to establish a platform between Turkey and Arab League, adding that establishing a forum for high level contacts was targeted firstly. He said the parties have reached a mutual understanding to hold annual consultations between Turkey and Arab League.

Asked about an international security meeting on Iraq which is planning in Istanbul, Moussa expressed his support by saying "yes" in Turkish.

Gul meets Gheit

Turkish Foreign Minister Gul met on Saturday Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboul Gheit, at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, said the political process in Iraq should be inclusive to all the Iraqi people.

"We don't want, at this time, to increase problems than those already exist," said Gul, noting that the fate of the northern city of Kirkuk was important to maintain unity and sovereignty of Iraq.

Gheit said Egypt's position vis-a-vis Kirkuk was within the solution of all problems in Iraq.
Kirkuk is an Iraqi city and is meant to be for all Iraqis, he added, and the Iraqis themselves should decide the future of this city. "Kirkuk is an Iraqi city after all," he said.

Gul, said Turkey was planning to increase investments in Egypt. He anticipated investments to reach $1.2 billion.

Gheit said he and Gul discussed the upcoming conference of Iraq's neighbors and how they were viewing the meeting.

On the oil agreement between Egypt and Greek Cypriot administration, Gheit said this issue would be discussed by Egyptian and Turkish experts. Gheit added that he invited Turkish technical team to search oil agreement.

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