BAKU - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that the Caucasus region which was the door of Turkey opening to Central Asia and which gained importance in the history with Silk Road, maintained its strategic importance with East-West energy and transportation corridors.
Addressing Baku State University, Gul said that the instability in Caucasus region caused negative effects for regional countries, adding that lasting stability and cooperation atmosphere could be provided by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.
Gul stated that Turkey recognized the independence of regional countries after the dissolution of USSR without making discrimination among them and that Turkey helped Azerbaijan despite its own economic problems.
Noting that the relations with Georgia were carried out on a sound and cooperative basis, Gul said that ''Turkey attaches great importance to protection of Georgia's territorial integrity and stability. We continue helping our neighbour on its difficult days as we helped it in the past.''
Gul stated that Turkey didn't set up diplomatic relations with Armenia due to known reasons, adding they were not against normalization of the relations between the two countries.
''Armenia should abide by international laws. It should make its final choice to make peace with its past and give up judging the history. Armenia should show a serious will to solve its problems with its neighbours. If Armenia clearly shows that it adopted such an attitude, this will have concrete benefits for everybody in respect of Turkey's relations with this country, Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, regional peace, stability and prosperity,'' Gul said.
Gul added that Turkey fulfilled its task for formation of stability and prosperity atmosphere in South Caucasian region with projects like Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, by its activities in international organizations like Black Sea Economic Cooperation and by organizing summit meetings with regional countries.
Referring to Turkish foreign policy in its general outline, Gul said that ''the number one priority of Turkish foreign policy is to contribute to protection and development of peace and stability in its region and to create a prosperity and cooperation zone with neighbouring countries and states in the region.''
Gul stated that Turkey belonged to more than one geographies like the Mediterranean, Black Sea, the Balkans, Caucasus and Middle East, adding that ''this fact requires Turkey to pursue a multidimensional, balanced and dynamic foreign policy.''
Gul stated that in addition to Turkey's cooperation with the U.S., its membership process with the EU continued, it also developed relations with the Balkans, the Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian countries and that Turkey launched efforts to form a cooperation zone with complementary, not contradictory dimensions.
Gul said, ''2004 will be a significant year in EU accession process. Our expectations and efforts are for EU's taking the decision to start full membership negotiations in the end of 2004.'' He added that if this was fulfilled, the borders of EU would reach Caucasia and it would important for the stability and development of the region.
Regarding Cyprus issue, Gul said that finding a lasting and just solution to the problem was the common wish and target of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and added that Turkey had the necessary will for this and it encouraged restarting of negotiation process between Turkish and Greek Cypriots after the activities for forming the government in TRNC.
Noting that Russia had an important place in Turkish foreign policy, Gul said that Turkey attributed importance to the development of relations with Russia, which had the capacity to affect dynamics in Eurasia region, in a way which would serve mutual interests.
Gul said that purification of Middle East from political problems, mass destruction weapons, terrorism and social economic problems would be for the interest of everybody. He added that the situation in Iraq should rapidly return to normal and it should take the place it deserved in international platform.
Gul said that Turkey had been following a policy based on principles as of the beginning of Iraq problem and it firstly exerted efforts to prevent war and when the war became inevitable, Turkey exerted efforts to overcome it with minimum loss of life and property.
Gul said, ''Turkey considers that the principles of territorial integrity which is indispensable while shaping the future of Iraq, maintaining political unity and sovereignty of Iraq in every condition and common benefiting from natural richness in Iraq should be provided. Turkey, which is the main artery of humanitarian aid to Iraq, is continuing to contribute to meet the humanitarian needs and reconstruction of this country.''
Stressing that the tension between Israel and Palestine has reached a dimension threatening regional and global stability, Gul said that Turkey supported road map in this issue.
Noting that Turkey which gained the confidence of both sides has been exerting efforts to end violence in the region and to settle peace process, Gul said that also new initiatives were started to decrease economic problems of Palestinian people.
(GC-Öª) 10.01.2004