Gul: Turkey And Greece Are Willing To Solve Their Problems Through Peaceful Means

ANTALYA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey and Greece were willing to solve their problems through peaceful means.
Gul replied to questions of reporters at the end of the Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum (FOROMED) held in southern Antalya province.
Asked about decision of Turkey and Greece not to exercise military maneuvers in 2003, Gul said that the decision of two countries not to exercise military maneuvers in the southeast of the Mediterranean was pleasing.
Gul noted that military officials of two countries had discussed the issue before and made that decision.
''This shows that two countries on the two sides of the Aegean are willing to solve their problems through peaceful means,'' Gul said.
Gul stated that two countries had many common sides and said, ''of course, there are some problems. We are not going to deny them. But, we will exert efforts to solve these problems with good will and peaceful means.''
Replying to a question on Cyprus issue, Gul said that they were exerting efforts to reach a solution but that it was not possible to say yes to conditions which could not be accepted by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey.
Gul stated that sides should assume a compromising attitude for a solution and said that not only TRNC but also Greek Cypriot side should take steps.
Foreign Minister Gul pointed to importance of realistic acts for solution of the issue.
Upon another question, Gul said that he sent a letter to the Arab League to inform it about process of Turkey's dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Touching on recent developments in the Middle East, Gul said that Israel's attack on Syria was very dangerous and could lead to unexpected developments.
Gul stated that they considered attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
Everybody should insist on implementation of road map for settlement of peace, Gul stressed.
When recalled about the news about attack on Turkish drivers in Iraq, Gul said that it was not an attack only on Turkish drivers and lorries.
GUL: PARTICIPANTS OF FOROMED TAKE UP FORMATION OF FOUNDATION WHICH WILL SERVE INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE
Gul said that participants of the Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum (FOROMED) took up formation of foundation which would serve intercultural dialogue within scope of Europe-Mediterranean process.
Speaking in the closing session of the FOROMED, Gul said that the meeting was held in a sincere and friendly atmosphere and activities carried out during term presidency of Turkey were evaluated in the meeting.
Gul noted that how cooperation would be continued was taken up in the meeting.
Importance of political dialogue as a part of the FOROMED was stressed in order to help a peaceful and stable atmosphere in the region, Gul stated.
Gul said that several proposals for political, economic and cultural cooperation were taken up.
There were some concrete cooperation initiatives, particularly in fight against terrorism, Gul noted.
Gul said that participants underlined importance of both regional and international cooperation, condemned every kind of terrorism, and stressed determination to fight against terrorism.
Participants took up formation of foundation which would serve intercultural dialogue within scope of Europe-Mediterranean process, Gul stated.
Gul said that participants reached consensus to name that foundation for Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, who was assassinated a while ago.
There were difference of opinion among EU member countries and other countries in formation of a bank, illegal migration and integration of refugees, Gul noted.
Gul added that two separate statements were issued for Lindh and Spanish diplomat who died in an attack in Baghdad.

MEDITERRANEAN FORUM'S DECLARATION PUBLISHED

''PRESENCE OF FOREIGN FORCES IN IRAQ SHOULD BE OF TEMPORARY NATURE''

The recent developments in Iraq and the Middle East were mainly covered during the Tenth Ordinary Session of the Mediterranean Forum (FOROMED) Foreign Ministers.
A declaration was issued after the meeting saying that ''the foreign ministers expressed their desire to see peace, stability and sovereignty restored in Iraq in the near future. The Ministers asserted that Iraq should remain as one country and one nation in which its ethnic and religious diversity would be an asset for its democratic pluralism. The United Nations should play a central role in the stabilization and reconstruction of the country. The presence of foreign forces in Iraq should be of a temporary nature and that their gradual departure should be completed in a certain time frame.''
Expressing concern about the recent escalation of tension and violence in the Middle East, the declaration noted that the escalation of tension endangered the Road-Map process and dialogue. ''The Ministers agreed that there was no alternative to the Road Map and they supported fully the efforts of the Quartet to bring it back on track,'' it was noted. The declaration also stressed that violent attacks on Israel and Israel's excessive use of force towards Palestinians cast a shadow on the prospects of peaceful co-existance by two independent states and dialogue in the region. ''The decision by Israel to remove Palestine leader Yasser Arafat would cause serious repercussions in the region,'' it was noted. The declaration also expressed concern over Israel's airstrike near Damascus on October 5, 2003, which was in violation of international law and of Syria's sovereignty and could lead to further escalating tension in the region.
(Öª-AY) 10.10.2003