ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''according to my point of view, an understanding of imposing embargoes in today's world contradicts human rights. Such approaches lead to insolubility instead of solution.''
Prime Minister Erdogan and Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon held a joint news conference on Wednesday.
Speaking at the news conference, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we have revealed that both Turkey and Lebanon have the will to further improve their bilateral relations as two countries having a joint history. The agreements we have signed today will significantly contribute to peace, stability and security in our region.''
Noting that Prime Minister Hariri had come to Turkey during a very important period, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we had the opportunity of discussing recent developments in Iraq, the Middle East and Palestine.''
Referring to economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Lebanon, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''the foreign trade volume between our two countries is far away from the desired level. During our tete-a-tete meeting and meetings between Turkish and Lebanese delegations, we sought ways to increase our bilateral trade volume. Both sides have the political will to further develop economic and commercial relations by signing the free trade agreement as soon as possible and holding joint economic commission meetings.''
''There has been a significant increase in number of tourists coming to Turkey from sister and friendly country Lebanon in recent years. We also had the opportunity of discussing how we can increase this number, what we can do together and what kind of steps we can take in exchange of information. I want to thank Mr. Prime Minister and the delegation with him for coming to my country during such a meaningful atmosphere. Be certain that we will strengthen this atmosphere by paying a return visit soon,'' Erdogan said.
Asked about the role that Turkey can play regarding withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Arab territories it occupied and Turkey's opinion about economic sanction that the United States want to impose on Syria, Erdogan said that he wanted to give an answer to second part of the question especially in terms of human rights and supremacy of law.
''I think that an understanding like embargo in today's world contradicts human rights. Such a stance is not a solution but it triggers insolubility. As a country which is the guarantor state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus that has been exposed to such treatment for years, Turkey believes and thinks that it is not right. Peace and globalization do not depend on embargo,'' he said.
Answering the first part of the question, Erdogan said that they did not believe that Israel's unilateral plans on withdrawing from Gaza were not right and just and did not target solution.
Erdogan said that they were in favor of the UN Security Council's preparing the grounds for a fair and lasting solution.
Erdogan and Hariri also discussed terrorist organization PKK and terrorism during the meeting.
Erdogan thanked Hariri for Lebanon's sensitivity towards extradition of illicit drug smugglers and convicts of terrorism.
Israeli-Palestinian dispute was also discussed in the meeting. Hariri said that the steps which Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had taken regarding Palestinian people did not contribute to peace.
Hariri said that also Turkey could extend support to the natural gas project which included Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon on transfer of Egyptian natural gas to Europe in long term.
Erdogan said about the issue that Turkey was ready to support meetings of Lebanon with Egypt on that issue.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Hariri held a joint press conference on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Hariri said that imposing embargo on a country instead of resolving the problems through dialogue was not a method of solution.
Describing neighborly relations between Lebanon and Syria as historical ties, Hariri said that Syrian officials were in favor of fair, lasting, comprehensive and sustainable peace in the region.
Hariri stressed that the only way to provide peace in the region was implementation of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, adding that Israel should withdraw from territories of Syria, Palestine and Lebanon to provide peace in the region.
Hariri said that there was no obstacle before carrying relations between Turkey and Lebanon on every field to the desired highest level, adding that the path to fulfill this was open.
Hariri said that the relations between Turkey and Lebanon would further develop with the agreements which were signed today and would be signed in the future and envisaging the cooperation of both countries. He added that they would do their best to rapidly fulfill the free trade agreement between Turkey and Lebanon that would contribute in interests of both countries.
Turkey and Lebanon signed protocol on technical, scientific and economic cooperation in agriculture field, agreement on mutual encouragement and protection of investments, agreement on prevention of double taxation and tax evasion, protocol on economic and technical cooperation in public works and fight against natural disasters and protocol on cooperation between archives.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN HOSTS DINNER IN HONOR OF LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER HARIRI
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a dinner in honor of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri of Lebanon on Wednesday.
Erdogan said that there were many cooperation opportunities in all fields especially in economy and trade between the two countries.
Stating that developments in the Middle East affected deeply Turkey, Erdogan said that the region could not reach peace, stability and prosperity due to clashes and problems that have occurred for years. Erdogan stressed that regional countries should make a constructive cooperation and provide an atmosphere of understanding to bring peace and prosperity to the region and to use current opportunities for prosperity of peoples of the region and added that efforts that Turkey and Lebanon would extend were of great importance to reach this aim.
Stating that terrorist actions and violence that have been occurring recently in Israeli-Palestinian conflict were being followed with concern, he said that Turkey gave priority to protection of rights of Palestinian people and Palestine's taking an honorable place in international community. He added that it was obvious that a peaceful solution could not be reached through terrorism and use of excessive force in Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Recalling that they were pleased with approval of Road Map by sides which was put forth for solution of the conflict, Erdogan said necessary steps should be taken immediately.
Erdogan said that they believed that Syria and Lebanon canals should also be revived by considering that peace and stability would be lasting on the condition that they were comprehensive.
Erdogan noted that situation in Iraq and the future of this country concerned the region and stated that what was important was protection of territorial integrity and national unity of Iraq.
(UK-GC-MS-AÖ) 12.05.2004