MOSCOW - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said there had recently been worrying developments in Palestine, adding, ''incidents there have been developing in a way that worries whole world.''
Following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow where he had arrived under his meetings with the Middle East Quartet (formed by European Union, United Nations, Russia and United States) on the issue of Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Ministers Delegation's Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Gul answered Turkish reporters' questions.
Noting that OIC's meeting with Russia was occurring during an important period, Gul said that important incidents had happened in Palestine especially in last few weeks and in last few days.
''These are really worrying incidents and they have been developing in a way that worries the whole region and the world. The latest policy of Israel was condemned by the UN Security Council yesterday,'' he said.
Stating that OIC wanted the problem to end peacefully, Gul said, ''as the Middle East Quartet said in its statements the day before, both sides should act under framework of the road map. Israel should stop use of force against civilians and innocent people, besides it the policy of destroying homes should end. Any attempt that would split the sides by building wall should be prevented and it should withdraw from the territories it occupied under the UN Security Council resolutions.''
Noting that also Israel's security and safety in the region should be provided, Gul said, ''these are important issues. I am here to talk about these issues. With this respect I want to say that there will be a session on Iraq issue in the Turkish parliament on next Tuesday. I am thinking of directly bringing also the issues related to Palestine and Middle East problem.''
Gul said that he had expressed his opinions about Cyprus to UN Security Council permanent representative Russia and they had discussed bilateral economic and political issues under his meetings in Moscow.
Stating that he had asked Lavrov to immediately lift economic embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), immediately start direct flights to the TRNC and remove obstacles that prevent vessels carrying tourists and cargo from stopping by the TRNC, Gul said that there would be concrete developments in line with the report that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan would present to the UN Security Council.
Stating that Russia requested observer status in the OIC but there was not such a status, Gul said that OIC's regulations would be reviewed at meeting in Istanbul and studies would start on granting Russia such a status.
Replying to a question about Russia's stance towards the Cyprus issue, Gul said, ''it is real that relations between Turkey and Russia have been improving. Mr. President Putin proved it with multi-dimensional partnership. Everything should enhance properly and appropriately to this, of course.''
''While all relations are enhancing and getting deeper, common opinions should emerge on regional issues and other problems and Russia should review its policies, of course. Undoubtedly, these are our expectations. However, we have to hold close consultations to make these happen. We have to explain our issues in detail. We have to clearly put forward our reasons. And it is what I am doing today,'' he said.
Stating that Lavrov had clearly told him that they supported lifting of embargoes, establishment of commercial relations and lifting economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot side, which was the right thing, Gul said, ''they say that efforts could be exerted for a solution in the future and everything should happen under the UN framework and Annan's plan should be taken as the basis. However, they say it would be right to lift economic isolation. They clearly said that they would not create any obstacle in front of Russian companies' relations with the Turkish Cypriot side.''
Replying to a question, Gul said that opening of Turkish-Armenian border could be possible only after Armenia withdrew from the territories it occupied.
Asked about the Armenian President's decision on not participating in the NATO summit in Istanbul, Gul said, ''it is a NATO meeting. Armenia has a representation in Istanbul under the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization. Should Armenia close it, too? I suppose that it was a statement that targeted domestic politics.''
Asked whether Turkey had ''plan B'' in case the EU would not set a date for opening of accession talks at its summit in December, Gul said, ''we don't have such a plan. We all think of opening of negotiations in December.''
''Besides, decision on opening of negotiations with Turkey was made in 2002. At that summit, the decision was made and it was said that negotiations with Turkey would immediately start in December of 2004 if it fulfilled political criteria,'' Gul added.
(MS) 20.05.2004