KUALA LUMPUR - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met on Wednesday with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in Malaysia.
Gul and Moussa, currently in Malaysia to participate in 10th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), discussed Middle East problem, Iraq and relations between Turkey and Arab world.
Speaking after the meeting, Moussa said relations between Turkey and the Arab world should continue in a strong way, stating that he called Gul immediately after the attack on Turkish Embassy in Baghdad and conveyed messages of solidarity.
Stating that Turkish people were not enemy of Iraq, Moussa said this would continue.
Replying a question whether there was any change about the decision adopted in Parliament following the letter sent by Gul to him, Moussa said Turkey had not yet sent soldiers, stating that Arab world also did reach a decision on the issue.
Moussa pointed out that nobody would be able to solve Iraq question on his won, stating that all the related sides, including forces who opposed to coalition, should be in continuous consultation.
Foreign Minister Gul in his part said they conveyed Moussa the views of Turkey on Iraq, stressing that the government got authority from the parliament, and that he told Moussa that several conditions had to be met to use this authority.
Gul said he told Moussa that Arab world should be more active in Iraq problem, stressing that, ''I told him that Iraq was a part of Arab world, and that everybody should do his best.''
Pointing out the importance of cooperation to set a timetable in the new decision that is expected to be taken by U.N. Security Council, Gul said, ''this is Arab territory. You must protect it at first.''
Gul said Amr Moussa adopted the proposal made by Turkey regarding establishment of a contact group within OIC, noting that, ''this important issue should not be skipped only with statements when leaders of the Islam world has come together.''
Gul said they harshly condemned the attack in Baghdad, stressing that this attack showed that Iraq needed stability.
Foreign Minister Gul said Turkey's intention was too open, and that it did not have any hidden target, adding that the authority taken by the Parliament would be used in case a conviction appears that it would be successful in Iraq, and that help could be expended to Iraq.
Gul said, ''nobody will be able to affect Turkey's determination to make Iraq reach stability.''
(AY-BRC) 15.10.2003