CAIRO - Turkish FM and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said he believed a regional regulation involving relations in all areas would be useful.
Delivering a speech at the opening session of the FMs meeting of the Arab League, Gul expressed the happiness he felt over having been invited to the meeting and in this respect thanked the Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit.
Stressing the importance of the relations between Turkey and the Arab League, Gul said he believed the Turkish-Arab forum would soon convene and be institutionalized.
Underlining that the Middle East was going through to most troubled period in its history, Gul indicated that it was not possible to solve the problems in the region separately. Gul said the Palestinian issue which lay at the center of the problems, was creating pessimism and expectancy of fundamentalism in the region.
Gul expressed his happiness over the consensus that was reached in Mecca and thanked King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt for their contribution. Gul said he believed a national unity government to be founded in Palestine would be an important step in the solution of the problem.
Stating that the new government should attach priority to the interests of the Palestinian people, Gul underlined the need for the international community to support this government.
Commenting on the latest situation in Iraq, Gul underscored the importance of maintaining the territorial integrity of Iraq and said, "a separated Iraq would bring forth unpredictable consequences for the whole region."
Gul said a strong central government was important in building peace and stability. Indicating that Kirkuk, which is a "home to Arabs, Turks and Kurds", was a small microcosm of Iraq, Gul underlined the necessity of national consensus over the issue.
Regarding the nuclear issue with Iran, Gul said, diplomatic methods should be used in seeking a solution to the issue.
Gul also commented on the situation in Lebanon and said, "we are ready to do everything in our capability to help build stability in Lebanon."
Stating that sectarian disputes in the region were causing unrest, Gul said these kind of disputes would have negative consequences.
Gul said they would work towards establishing cooperation between Turkey and the Arab League that would set an example.