ISTANBUL - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Straw was welcomed by Deputy Istanbul Governor Murat Yildirim, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative in Istanbul Fazli Kesmir and the British Consulate General in Istanbul officials.
Straw's scheduled visit to Istanbul was earlier postponed due to bad weather.
Straw will attend a ceremony that will take place at the British Consulate General on Wednesday to commemorate those who were killed in bomb attacks in Istanbul.
Replying to questions of journalists at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Straw reminded that both Turkish and British citizens lost their lives in last year's suicide bomb attacks in Istanbul, adding that he came to Istanbul to attend a commemoration ceremony to be held at the British Consulate General out of respect to victims of those bomb attacks.
Referring to today's attacks in Iraq and Pakistan, Straw told reporters that they would also commemorate victims of those blasts at tomorrow's ceremony.
Noting that all those developments had unveiled the real dimensions of terrorism, Straw said that international terrorism respected neither countries nor women and children, adding that all humanity was obliged to fight against international terrorism.
Upon a question about the ongoing negotiation process in Cyprus aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, Straw said that they had been supporting continuation of the United Nations-sponsored negotiation process.
He highlighted importance of positive approach displayed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, and the Turkish government.
Straw expressed his hope that the negotiation process would come to a positive and successful conclusion.
When asked, ''as you know, many attacks were staged in Iraq recently. Has Iraq become more unsafe after capture of Saddam Hussein?'' Straw told reporters that Iraqi people were able to elect their government freely now. He said that those who staged attacks in Iraq could not reach their goals.
Upon a question about Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process, Straw said that they considered steps taken by the Turkish government very positive.
Noting that the British government had been supporting Turkey's EU membership process, Straw expressed his hope that the EU would set a date in its summit in December of 2004 for opening of accession talks with Turkey.
(MS) 02.03.2004