ANTALYA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Monday that ''protection of Iraqi territorial integrity, its having a democratic structure in which ethnic groups would be represented fairly, its reconstruction and its people's reaching peace, prosperity, and happiness is our sincere wish.''
Addressing the opening of the 13th International Antalya Security and Cooperation Conference organized by Turkish Atlantic Council, Parliament Speaker Arinc said that the conference was important as it was organized just after the NATO Defense and Foreign Ministers meetings held in Brussels last week and before the NATO Summit that would be held in Istanbul in 2004.
Arinc stated that international terrorism, which was one of the important issues of NATO, and other threats seriously affected Turkey like all other allies, adding that the loathsome terrorist attacks which took place in Istanbul recently were the last and painful example of that.
Arinc stated that Turkey welcomed the solidarity of NATO with Turkey following the attacks, adding ''Turkey, which has suffered a lot from terrorism for long years, has always defended the need of strengthening international solidarity against terrorism in today's globalized world. We closely monitor, support and contribute to these studies carried out within NATO with this understanding. NATO goes through its most serious transformation process. In addition to its successful operations aiming to install peace and security in the Balkans, the borders of NATO's security areas extend with the task it recently undertook in Afghanistan.''
Arinc also expressed his great pleasure over Hikmet Cetin's being appointed as the senior civilian representative of NATO Secretary General to Afghanistan and wished him success in his difficult mission.
Parliament Speaker Arinc said that NATO's undertaking responsibility in Iraq was on the agenda today and stated that ''protection of Iraqi territorial integrity, its having a democratic structure in which ethnic groups would be represented fairly, its reconstruction and its people's reaching peace, prosperity, and happiness is our sincere wish.''
Stating that Turkey would continue to also make contributions in this issue from now on as it did in the past, Arinc said, ''if NATO undertakes responsibility in Iraq, Turkey, as a member of the alliance and a neighbor and friend of Iraq, will fulfill its duties.''
Arinc said that change process which was speeded up with NATO Prague Summit should be further improved after it was concluded in Istanbul Summit and it was an essential both for the future of the Alliance and also for international security and stability. He noted that they expected a new and sound path to be determined, joint strategies with the EU to be developed and capacity of fight against variable threats to be strengthened for the future of NATO in Istanbul Summit.
Stating that expansion issue of NATO would strengthen the role that Europe-Atlantic geography would have to play in the 21st century, Arinc said that they hoped that accession of seven countries which Turkey has supported so far to the Alliance would be concluded till Istanbul Summit. He added that Turkey completed its approval procedures on this issue.
Arinc said that they believed that NATO would be stronger by carrying on its ''open door'' policy for new members and its role would be strengthened in Europe-Atlantic geography in the 21st century.
Stating that Turkey, a powerful member of NATO, had defense skills and was a candidate for membership of the European Union (EU), he said that Turkey could make important contributions to studies which aimed to further improve joint security and defense policy of the EU. Arinc said that they appreciated efforts of EU which aimed to develop its defense skills.
The meeting which representatives of 24 countries attend will end on Tuesday.
(Öª-EÖ-AÖ) 08.12.2003