Gul: We Are Definitely Opposed To Discrimination

AMMAN - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday, ''people can freely choose their religious beliefs. We are definitely opposed to all kinds of discrimination.''
Speaking at the Global Compromise Meeting held under the World Economic Forum meetings in Jordan, Gul said, ''people are free to choose any religion. They can also prefer to be atheist. We should respect their preferences.''
Highlighting importance of social and international compromise, Gul said, ''for instance, there were undesired relations between Turkey and Syria in the past. However, we have resolved security and other problems. Now, the two countries have set up a good cooperation.''
Recalling that although Greece and Armenia were not Black Sea littoral countries, Turkey had invited them to join the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSCE), Gul said that it was another model of compromise.
Foreign Minister Gul stressed that countries having different religions and historical backgrounds could co-exist in peace, adding, ''France and Germany fought against each other during the World War II. However, they have become the two locomotive countries of the European Union today.''
''We should hold meetings with representatives of cinema industry and other similar organizations for prevention of war of cultures. School books should be purified from fanatic and violent factors. Also, those who work in the sector of world tourism should contribute to intercultural solidarity,'' he said.
Gul called on important economic organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support social cooperation in their policies.
Meanwhile, Turkey will make an aid of one million U.S. dollars during the ''A Call for Humanitarian Aid to Iraq'' to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States, next week.
GUL MEETS WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE POWELL
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul had a brief meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday.
Iraq's interim authority chairman Paul Bremmer also took part in the meeting. Under the same meeting, Gul met with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
Gul also met with Tamer Gadban who has currently undertaken the post of Iraqi Oil Minister. Sources said that Gadban had conveyed his pleasure to Gul with resumption of flow of Iraqi oil to Turkey from Yumurtalik-Ceyhan pipeline.
Meanwhile, Gul had a bilateral meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha. Sources said that both sides had expressed their pleasure with the progress recorded in talks between the two countries on issue of electricity.
GUL MEETS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER SHALOM OF ISRAEL
Gul and Shalom held a joint press conference following their meeting at the Marrot Hotel in Dead Sea which lasted nearly thirty minutes.
Speaking at the press conference, Gul said, ''Turkey is one of the rare countries having good relations with both Israel and Palestine. We have been supporting the road map for settlement of peace in the Middle East. We hope that the sides would not miss such an opportunity this time.''
Underlining that peace and stability should be settled in the Middle East, Gul said, ''Turkey is ready to make all kinds of contribution to the Middle East peace process. We are also ready to host international meetings during the peace process.''
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shalom of Israel said that they had invited Gul to Israel.
Recalling that the President of Israel would pay a visit to Turkey next week, Shalom stressed that they had been expending efforts to set up better relations with Turkey both in politics and economy.
Noting that they also wanted to hold direct meetings with Palestinians, Shalom said that terrorism and acts of violence should come to an end in the region as soon as possible.
''Palestinian administration should make its preference and put an end to terrorism and acts of violence. We want Mr. Gul to persuade Palestinian administration to end terrorism and acts of violence in the region,'' he said.
Shalom also asked Gul to persuade Arab countries to send their ambassadors to Israel and set up diplomatic ties.
Meanwhile, Gul held a brief talk with Finance Minister Salim Fayyad of Palestine.
(UK-MS) 22.06.2003