ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wished the 31st session of Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to end with success and said, ``because Islam world needs the success of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC).``
Erdogan hosted a dinner in honor of foreign ministers who attended OIC meeting.
Delivering a speech during the meal, Erdogan said that he considered the speeches, which were made today and would be made within the next two days within the scope of OIC, as important in order to show the joint messages of OIC members. He added that he appreciated the solidarity messages which were given in many issues such as Palestine-Israel dispute, Iraq, Cyprus and Kashmir problems.
Erdogan said that following and implementing the decisions which would be accepted at the conference was very important.
Prime Minister Erdogan said that Middle East and North Africa were the main agenda items of the G-8 Summit which was held in the United States and noted that a message which said that developed countries were ready for cooperation and assistance for development of those regions came out from this summit.
Erdogan noted that it was recalled in this summit that regional problems especially Palestine-Israel conflict was one of basic obstacles in front of development.
Stating that he underlined that G-8 countries should extend further effort to solve those problems fairly, Erdogan said that a commitment supporting a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution to Palestine-Israel conflict was mentioned in the political statement which was issued at the end of the summit. He added that this commitment was a very encouraging step.
(GC-EÖ-AÖ) 14.06.2004