ISTANBUL - Sides in Iraq should fulfill their responsibilities and not make wrong estimations, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday.
Speaking at a conference ``The New Atlantic Alliance At a New Crossroads`` jointly organized by Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) and U.S. think-tank organization German Marshall Fund, Gul said that he supported the idea of change in the Islam world, but there were some conditions before that change.
Gul noted that those conditions could occur by establishing partnership not intervention, and with the support of regional countries not by imposition.
Turkey was not playing a role as a model, Gul stated.
Gul said that a democratic Iraq, the territorial integrity of which was not deteriorated and the sources of which were used by its own people and for the sake of its own people, would be the supported of peace and welfare in its region.
Turkey would continue to extend every kind of support to people of Iraq, which was undertaking a new era, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that success reached in Iraq`s transition period would be for everybody`s benefit.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul said that ongoing political conflicts in Iraq and Palestine did not help regional social and economic reform perspectives.
Those political problems would not be a reason to delay some urgent responsibilities, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that countries should abide themselves by changing conditions and fulfil some responsibilities due to new threats.
Security was face to face with some threats from terrorism to proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Gul stated.
Gul said that Turkey would play an important role in solution of regional chronic problems thanks to its relations with two sides of Atlantic.
Turkey`s geographical location and its historical and cultural heritage offered good opportunities to Turkey to contribute to regional security, cooperation, Gul stated and stressed that Turkey did not miss those opportunities.
Gul said that Turkey`s attitude towards peaceful settlement of the Cyprus issue bewildered many people.
The real target was to protect security and rights of Turkish Cypriots, Gul stated.
Gul expressed Turkey`s expectation that the international community to lift unjust and inhumane limitations on Turkish Cypriots.
Turkey`s importance would increase thanks to its European Union (EU) membership process, Gul said.
Gul said that ``he was surer today than any time`` that the EU would start negotiations with Turkey.
Missions Turkey had undertaken in Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan had been appreciated, Gul stated.
Gul noted that Turkey continued its efforts aiming at solution of Karabakh issue and restoration of stability in Georgia.
Any step that Armenia would take to end its occupation of Azerbaijani lands would help final solution of Upper Karabakh dispute, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad al-Alawi demanded that NATO train Iraqi security forces, and noted that this could be one of NATO`s contributions to Iraq when replying to a question on possible contributions of NATO to Iraq.
(BRC) 26.06.2004