Gul Says Turkey Exerts Efforts To Make Aegean Sea ' Sea Of Peace '

ISTANBUL - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Sunday that Turkey was exerting efforts to make the Aegean Sea a ''sea of peace.''
Gul replied to questions of reporters before a meeting in Istanbul.
When reminded about the statement of Greek National Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou who said that Greece could veto Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) if Turkey continued to violate airspace over the Aegean Sea, Gul said, ''we are exerting efforts to make the Aegean Sea a 'sea of peace.' If Turkey and Greece solve their problems by dialogue, it will be in favor of both countries. We, as Turkey, are exerting efforts to this end. Greece should also exert efforts in this framework. Rather than reading statements published in newspapers, we should discuss and sort out problems by talking face to face. Everybody should help in this regard. There is no use of clash or crisis to anybody.'
Upon a question on developments in Iran, Gul said that they were following developments and stated that tranquility and stability should be settled in Iran as soon as possible.
Gul said that everybody should put his domestic affairs in order and added that neighbor countries' being in tranquility was in favor of Turkey.
(EÖ-Öª) 15.06.2003