ANKARA - Turkey and Lebanon would hold continuous consultations for lasting peace in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Sunday.
Gul and Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Obeid held a joint press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul said that he and Obeid focused on Israeli-Palestinian dispute in their meeting.
Gul noted that he and Obeid discussed initiatives to be exerted to ensure peace in the region.
Killing of Hamas` spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin was a mistake and dangerous, Gul stated.
Gul said that he and Obeid agreed that Turkey and Lebanon should hold continuous consultations for lasting peace in the island.
The United States should do its best together with all regional, Arab and world countries for solution of the dispute, Gul stated.
Gul pointed out that they should work for a lasting, fair and sustainable peace till the very end.
Asked if Turkey had launched initiatives for a compromise between Israel and Syria and between Israel and Lebanon, Gul said that Turkey was talking to the parties and added, ``we will work on this issue.``
Obeid had come to Turkey earlier on Sunday for an official visit. Jean Obeid`s visit to Turkey is important since it is the first visit paid in the level of foreign ministers from Lebanon to Turkey after 21 years of interval.
TURKEY DOESN`T INTEND TO UNDERTAKE PROJECT OF ANY COUNTRY RELATED WITH MIDDLE EAST
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul said that it was impossible to give Turkey the Greater Middle East Project.
Turkey had been on its own interested in and dealt with problems of the Middle East as a regional country before this project was put forth, Gul noted.
Gul stated that Turkey defended that democracy should be ensured in the region, universal human rights should be brought to the region, administration should become transparent in the region in order to end corruption, and important reforms should be made in order to reach all those targets.
Turkey thought that discussing those issues by leaders, intellectuals and scientists of the region and making reforms in the region were more proper than trying to impose them in the region, Gul added.
Obeid had come to Turkey earlier on Sunday for an official visit. Jean Obeid`s visit to Turkey is important since it is the first visit paid in the level of foreign ministers from Lebanon to Turkey after 21 years of interval.
RECENT INCIDENTS IN IRAQ SHOULD NOT IMPEDE ROAD MAP FOR THIS COUNTRY
Gul said that he and Obeid discussed Iraq in their meeting and stressed importance of restoration of stability in the country and presence of Iraq as a democratic country in the region.
Gul noted that he and Obeid decided that two countries would be in close consultations on Iraq.
Turkey considered recent developments in Iraq very dangerous, Gul said.
Gul pointed out that those recent incidents should not impede the road map put forward for that country.
End of clashes would be for the benefit of Iraq, Gul said.
Gul noted that end of clashes in Iraq was important for not only that country but also the whole region.
All regional countries, including Turkey, were carefully following developments in Iraq, Gul added.
Obeid had come to Turkey earlier on Sunday for an official visit. Jean Obeid`s visit to Turkey is important since it is the first visit paid in the level of foreign ministers from Lebanon to Turkey after 21 years of interval.
LEBANESE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS TURKEY AND LEBANON AGREE TO IMPROVE RELATIONS
Turkey and Lebanon agreed to improve their relations in fields of politics, security, economy, trade, tourism, culture and transportation, Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affair Jean Obeid said on Sunday.
Obeid said that Turkey had rooted relations with Islam and Arab world.
He and Gul took up regional issues in their meeting, Obeid stated.
Obeid said that two countries had parallel and similar views on Iraq.
Stressing importance of preservation of Iraq`s territorial and political unity and self-determination of Iraqi people on their future, Obeid said that they rejected division and separation.
Obeid stated that the United Nations (U.N.) should increase its role in developments in Iraq.
The U.N. should fulfil its supervision duty in Iraq, Obeid said.
Obeid noted that besides U.N., neighbor countries, Arab League and European Union (EU) member countries had responsibilities in Iraq.
This responsibility should be perceived as supporting Iraqi people in efforts to ensure Iraq`s unity instead of taking a share from the cake, Obeid stressed.
Obeid said that they were missing an Iraq, where freedom had been ensured and which was harmonious in itself and with its neighbors.
Touching on Palestinian-Israeli dispute, Obeid said that language of peace should be used if peace was really wanted.
Obeid said that parties should refrain from terror and violence.
Implementation of peace plan launched by Arab countries would be the most effective road, Obeid noted.
Obeid thanked Turkey for its support to rightful causes of Lebanon, Palestine and Syria.
Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Obeid had come to Turkey earlier on Sunday for an official visit. Jean Obeid`s visit to Turkey is important since it is the first visit paid in the level of foreign ministers from Lebanon to Turkey after 21 years of interval.
(BRC-AY) 12.04.2004