ANKARA - Turkish FM Ali Babacan said Sunday Turkey sees the Annapolis conference as an opportunity to revive the Middle East peace process.
"The EU appreciates Turkey's initiatives regarding the Middle East," Babacan told reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before he left for the United States to attend Annapolis conference which will focus on Middle East problems.
Babacan hoped the conference will be a milestone in efforts aiming at Middle East peace.
According to Babacan, the Palestinian issue is at the focal point of all other issues in the Middle East.
"Therefore, it is not possible to ensure lasting peace in the Middle East before the Palestinian issue is solved," he said.
Babacan said he hopes participants can agree on a document that will introduce new steps in the peace process and shows the general framework of the following initiatives.
"We want this document to say when negotiations will begin, by which method they will be carried out and which issues will be taken up," he also said.
Babacan said it will also be beneficial if the document sets a concrete schedule on when negotiations will be completed.
-TURKEY'S STANCE-
On the other hand, Babacan said Turkey's stance on Israeli-Palestinian dispute is well-known.
"We say that a solution should be based on UN resolutions, a road map and the Arab peace plan. A settlement should be based on existence of two states living beside each other," he also said.
Babacan said Turkey will continue to make constructive contributions to efforts aiming to find a solution to the problem.
FM Babacan said the EU appreciates Turkey's efforts aiming to ensure prosperity, peace and stability in the Middle East.
-TERRORISM-
Meanwhile, Babacan said he may express Turkey's views and expectations regarding fight against terrorism if this issue comes to agenda during his talks with his counterparts.
"I do not have such an information," he commented on claims that some top members of the terrorist organization were arrested and will be extradited to Turkey soon.