PUTRAJAYA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that Turkey's support to Iraq's stability and preparations for new period would continue on various fields and added that Turkey's Iraq vision was the collective vision of Iraqi people and international society and did not include another special agenda.
Sezer delivered a speech in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) 10th Term Heads of State and Government Summit. He gave important messages regarding Turkey's Iraq policy and the reforms that should be made by Islamic world.
Emphasizing that neighboring countries to Iraq and regional countries had a special responsibility, Sezer said that contributions of Turkey as Iraq's neighbor and Iraqi people's friend would continue in reconstruction period.
Sezer said that Islamic world needed a serious renovation and reform process. He told OIC members, ''we are faced with a basic preference. We will either be contented with our current condition by not doing our homework or take brave decisions by questioning ourselves and increase the level of Islamic world.''

SEZER: IRAQ SHOULD REACH STABILITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that Iraq had to reach stability as soon as possible, adding that Islam countries should not be inactive about the Iraqi issue.
Addressing the Tenth Summit of OIC Heads of Government and State, Sezer said that restoring public order and security in Iraq, protection of people's lives and properties and meeting the basic needs were the most urgent issues in Iraq.
Noting that the Iraqi people should reach full sovereignty as soon as possible, President Sezer said that sovereignty should be gradually transferred to Iraqis in parallel with ensuring order and stability in Iraq.
Sezer said that protection of Iraqi territorial integrity and political unity is an indispensable principle for Turkey, adding that all people in Iraq should get united within the scope of these basic principles as this was very important both for Iraq and also for the stability of the region.
President Sezer pointed out that Turkey would continue to contribute to reconstruction process in Iraq as the neighbour of Iraq and the friend of the Iraqi people, adding that Turkey became one of the main transportation lines in sending humanitarian assistance to Iraq. Sezer said that thousands of lorries passed from Turkey to Iraq and from Iraq to Turkey everyday, adding that Turkey also started to give electricity to Iraq.
Sezer noted that ''our support to Iraq's stability and preparation of the new period will continue in various fields. These contributions will be concrete repercussions of Turkey's basic vision about Iraq. Turkey's Iraqi vision is the collective vision of Iraqi people and the international society, it does not include any other specific agenda.''
Sezer said that international society particularly the U.N. had to assume effective roles in this difficult period, adding that Turkey considered the studies in U.N. Security Council with this understanding.
President Sezer added that OIC should not be inactive regarding the negative developments in Iraq.

SEZER: TRNC SHOULD TAKE ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN OIC

PUTRAJAYA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should take its rightful place in Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), stressing that TRNC could only participate in OIC as ''community'' which U.N. even did not use any more.
Addressing the 10th term heads of state and government summit of OIC, Sezer said the world was going through a changing process following end of cold war. Sezer said this process had both positive and negative consequences.
Sezer said in today's world, where geographical distances did not have much meaning as it had been in the past, period of looking for individual solution to the problems was left in the past. He said the necessity of looking for global solutions came forefront.
President Sezer said OIC had important functions so far and provided various acquisitions, stressing that, ''however all of us expect further strengthening of respectability, reliability and effectiveness of the organization. All of us expect the Islam world to contribute more to the solution of problems that are on the agenda of Islam world and international community in general.
Stressing that the conviction that OIC did not reflect its potential power necessarily, Sezer said, ''what we should do as the member countries and the organization, is to do our homework''.
President Sezer said Turkey called for a fair solution on Cyprus, pointing out that Turkey continued to support good will mission of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in this respect.
Stressing that there were two nations having different languages and religions and two states founded by them, Sezer said TRNC has a developing state structure.
Sezer said the solution should preserve bizonality and Turkish-Greek balance on the island.
Recalling that Moslem Turkish Cypriot people have been face to face with an unjust embargo for 40 years, Sezer said support of friendly countries to Turkish Cypriot people would facilitate solution.
Sezer said TRNC has been a member of the OIC since 1970's in observer status, noting that expectation of the TRNC for full membership was rightful. He said, ''Moslem Turkish Cypriots, who set up their own state 20 years ago, can only participate in OIC as ''community'' which the U.N. even did not use any more. TRNC should take its rightful place in OIC.''
Pointing out that the summit coincided with a critical period for the Islam world, Sezer said the Middle East region was on the threshold of a new period.
Sezer said a more influential cooperation was expected for acceleration of the steps that would be taken according to the road map, stressing the importance of taking necessary measures to neutralize every kind of initiatives, terror attacks and use of force that would disrupt implementation of road map.
Sezer expressed Turkey's readiness to work with all the sides for establishment of a future where peace would prevail in the Middle East, adding that Turkey felt concern over principle decision taken by Israeli security cabinet to send Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to exile and Israel's air strike on Syria.
Sezer said, ''it is very important that all the sides should act prudently in the current situation.''
Recalling that Mehmet Emin Aga, the elected Mufti of Western Thrace Turks was once again sentenced a while ago, Sezer said OIC's support to Western Thrace Moslem minority should continue.

SEZER MEETS WITH MUSHARRAF

Sezer held a meeting with Musharraf that lasted 30 minutes.
Sezer and Musharraf evaluated current situation in two country's relations and took up reconstruction of OIC and Iraq.
Sezer will hold bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al Asad within OIC summit.
(GC-AY) 16.10.2003