ANKARA - United Nations (UN) resolution on Iraq was a historic step and a turning point, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday.
Following their meeting, Gul and Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami held a joint press conference.
Gul said that the UN resolution was an important step for stability of Iraq but Iraqi people should back it for success of the resolution.
The UN resolution emphasized territorial integrity of Iraq and fight against terrorism and stressed importance of establishment of good relations between Iraq and its neighbors, Gul noted.
Gul said that the resolution ended occupation and transferred sovereignty to Iraqi people.
Under the resolution, a new government would take over the office in Iraq and relations between the coalition forces and the Iraqi government was re-arranged, Gul stated.
Gul said that the resolution drew attention that UN's role was increased under the resolution.
All those issues were still on the paper, Gul said and went on saying, ''we hope all these will work out and Iraqi people will back them. Therefore, this resolution is an important one and a turning point.''
Gul expressed Turkey's hope that Iraq's stability and peace would be restored as soon as possible and that a government in which Iraqi people were represented in the best way would be formed.
Turkey and neighbor countries attached great importance to good relations between Iraq and its neighbors, Gul pointed out.
When recalled about the news that leaders in the north of Iraq would not allow central government to enter the region, Gul said that a new period started as the resolution was adopted and stressed importance of unanimous adoption of the resolution.
Gul stated that the resolution was giving a message to everybody and everybody in Iraq should act in line with that resolution.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul defended that order would be restored in Iraq in case that process continued.
UN animously adopted the Iraq resolution on Tuesday. This resolution formally ends the occupation of Iraq on June 30.
(BRC-AY) 09.06.2004