ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Georgian Foreign Minister Tedo Japaridze, who is currently in Ankara on an official visit, came together on Tuesday.
Gul and Japaridze held a joint press conference after their tete-a-tete meeting and meetings between delegations.
Upon a question on Turkey's views on European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen's participation in negotiations on Cyprus issue, Gul said that everything concerning the issue was clear. He stated, ''who will participate in meetings is definite. If necessary, where and from whom U.N. Secretary General will receive technical support is clear. I will not say anything on who will attend and how they will attend and who will give technical support because those are details of the issue.''
Gul said that when meetings on who would participate in negotiations continued in the United Nations, U.N. Secretary General Annan had close contact with the EU and noted that many articles of the Annan plan had relation with EU. Stressing that the agreement would be put into practice with Turkey's full membership to the EU, Gul added, ''that's why, there can be need for technical information at several levels. It should not be understood in a way that those people will attend negotiations.''
Gul said on Tuesday that it was their first official meeting with the new Georgian government.
Reminding that a new era had begun in Georgia following the parliamentary elections on November 2, 2003, Gul said that Georgia had overcome domestic political developments with great maturity.
Noting that both bilateral and regional issues were brought onto agenda in their meeting, Gul said that stability and security of Southern Caucasus depended on Turkey and Georgia.
''We also took up the issues of commercial relations, efforts to increase mutual investments and energy. Also, revival of old railways was brought onto agenda,'' he said.
Gul told reporters, ''Turkey will always contribute to Georgia in its efforts of solving its problems under its territorial and political integrity. Turkey and Georgia will maintain their co-operation to settle stability in the region.''
Upon a question, Gul said, ''the project about construction of a new pipeline in parallel with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was also taken up at our meeting. We will be pleased with the project. Such an addition to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline to transport Russian oil will be pleasing.''
When asked whether Turkey would undertake the role of mediation in efforts of reaching a compromise between the central government in Georgia and regions such as Abkhazia and Ajaria, Gul said that Turkey had always tried to do its utmost and would continue to do so in the future to contribute to Georgia in its efforts of solving its problems under its territorial and political integrity.
Meanwhile, Japaridze said in his part that he was paying his first official visit to Turkey.
Describing Turkey and Georgia as two friendly countries and two strategic partners, Japaridze highlighted importance of Turkey-Georgia relations in regard to stability and security of the region.
Noting that all bilateral issues were taken up at the meeting, and they affirmed that there was not any political problem between the two countries, Japaridze recalled that Turkey had always supported them since they acquired their independence.
Japaridze said that Turkey had sent foodstuff aid worth of 1 million U.S. dollars to Georgia.
Upon a question about the new pipeline project in parallel with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Japaridze said that they had held pre-talks with Russia. He said that working group would be formed soon.
Responding another question, Japaridze said that they would try to do their utmost to politically resolve the problems between the central government and regions such as Abkhazia and Ajaria.
(UK-AÖ) 17.02.2004