Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gül departed for Russia on Tuesday to attend the Paris Pact Initiative Ministerial Meeting and to join President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on a state visit scheduled from 28 to 30 June.
Before boarding his flight, Gül described Iran's nuclear program as one of the most pressing matters in global diplomacy, noting that United Nations decisions bind all parties and that relevant governments are pursuing a diplomatic resolution.
Gül said that Türkiye, as both a neighbor to Iran and an ally of many Western nations, has been closely following the situation. He and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have undertaken several initiatives toward a settlement, including Gül's weekend trip to Tehran. He described Türkiye's aim as helping the two sides reach an agreement.
Gül also noted that an Iranian official was expected to meet with political directors of EU member states in the coming days, calling the session a significant step forward.
Asked separately about political activities by Rahsan Ecevit, wife of former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, Gül said citizens in democratic countries are free to pursue whatever political initiatives they choose.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.