ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - The Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Abdullah Gül has said on Saturday that Turkey supports a change in thinking in the Islamic world but he insisted that problems should be solved from within instead of being imposed.
Attending a meeting organized by the US German Marshall Fund and the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), Gül said that Turkey had not sought the part of role model for itself but that it was the best example of the fact that Islam and democracy could live together.
Remarking that the NATO Summit in Istanbul would be an historical opportunity to discuss NATO's future, Gül stated, "A secure environment must be created in order to provide peace and welfare in this region. Strategic issues will be discussed at the summit. Turkey will take an important role in the solution of chronic problems in the region with its good relations with both sides of the Atlantic."
Gül noted that the importance of Turkey would increase further during its EU accession process, "The efforts of Turkey towards EU membership have given a lot of results. I believe that Turkey will commence EU accession talks next year".
Stating that Turkey had surprised everybody with its decisive steps on the Cyprus issue, Gül said, "We declared that we were not seeking military and strategic benefits in Cyprus. We sought the rights and security of Turkish Cypriots." Gül also said that he was working for the end of the unjust and inhuman restrictions imposed on Turkish Cyprus by the international community.
Minister Gül noted that the solution of the Palestine-Israel issue was important in order to achieve stability in the region. He stated, "Turkey will continue to support the road map for the Middle East. In addition, the preservation of Iraqi integrity is important and the success of the Iraqi switch to democracy will contribute to the development of the region. However, the administration that will be established in Iraq must represent all groups in the country and all groups should benefit from the country's natural resources. We support a change in thinking in the Islamic world, if this comes from within instead of being imposed from outside."