Erdogan: Turkey Accomplished A Very Difficult Mission Hosting Nato Summit

ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey accomplished a very difficult mission by hosting NATO Summit in Istanbul.
Erdogan who held a news conference following the NATO Summit stated that Turkey accomplished a very important mission by hosting NATO Summit. He said that heads of state and government who attended the summit shared a similar view as well.
Erdogan said that Turkey represented a synthesis between Islam culture and democracy, between traditionality and modernism and between the past and the future, and stressed that this summit showed once again that Turkey was a powerful light of hope for dialogue between civilizations and cultures.
Underlining that Istanbul Summit pointed to a critical aspect in NATO`s transformation process, he said that decisions taken in the summit would be a historical turning point for the future, world peace and stability.
Erdogan said that decisions on extension of NATO mandate in Afghanistan to areas beyond Kabul, upon the demand of central government to support elections that would be held in this country, were confirmed in the NATO Summit.
He said: ``It has been decided to end NATO operation in Bosnia Herzegovina at the end of the year and assist the EU that is going to undertake a new operation there in light of achievements in this country. A new package of measures like enhancement of capabilities for prevention of possible chemical, biological and nuclear attacks and exchange of intelligence including several measures in fight against terrorism.
It has been decided to initiate work on removal of logistic and financial difficulties which restrict participation of member nations in NATO operations and to provide capabilities which are determined to be necessary to fight new threats.
It has been stressed that accession of seven new countries would not be the last expansion and that the Alliance`s open-door policy would be preserved.
It has been decided to give priority to Caucasian and Central Asian countries within the NATO`s partnership relations.
The `Istanbul Cooperation Initiative` which the leaders decided to carry out in full partnership and consultation with the regional countries in line with the approaches at the G-8 meeting and U.S.-EU summits has been put into practice. It has been decided to improve the existing Mediterranean Dialogue by preserving its peculiar identity in parallel to the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.
In accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1546 and in line with the Iraqi interim government`s demand, it has been decided that NATO will undertake a role in the training of Iraqi security forces and a domestic study will be initiated regarding supplementary steps.``
Erdogan added, ``in line with all these decisions, we clearly see that the NATO`s transformation process that is built on new capabilities, new partnerships and operations has gained a new horizon and been accelerated at Istanbul summit. This visionary quality of the Istanbul summit was actually mentioned also in the Istanbul Declaration that was adopted at the summit. Releasing of such a statement in addition of its content for the first time since the London summit in 1990 that was held shortly after end of the Cold War, affirms the importance of the Istanbul summit.``
ERDOGAN: ``WE HAVE INITIATED A PROCESS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN``
Erdogan said that they had initiated a negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan during the 17th NATO Summit in Istanbul.
Erdogan said, ``I held talks with Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan of Armenia during the summit. I also had the chance of bringing Oskanyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan together. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has initiated a process by bringing together foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan.``
``We want a solution to be found to Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute on the basis of the understanding of win-win. However, wishes are not enough at all. The most important thing is to come to a conclusion,`` he said.
Upon a question, Prime Minister Erdogan said that Turkey would undertake command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in the February-August period of 2005, adding that details would be clarified in the coming days.
JOINT STATEMENT ON IRAQ IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR TURKEY
Erdogan said this statement was also very important as allies who went through a difficult period during Iraq crisis put forth a consensus on Iraq issue.
``The statement on Iraq includes noteworthy observations on general situation in Iraq and principles that should be complied with,`` Erdogan noted.
Erdogan said that the statement`s underlining clearly that terrorist activities stemming from Iraq threatened neighbor countries, and security of the region was of great importance for Turkey.
Recalling that Afghan President Hamid Karzai also attended Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) meeting, Erdogan said, ``especially the meeting with Karzai is a historical one. This meeting was very beneficial and constructive, as it showed Euro-Atlantic group`s commitment toward the future of Afghanistan. This issue appeared clearly both in NATO meetings and also in bilateral meetings.``
Erdogan noted that this summit also contributed to European Union (EU) countries` approach toward Turkey`s EU membership.
In regard to Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul`s holding a trilateral meeting on Monday with Foreign Minister Elmar Memmedyarov of Azerbaijan and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan of Armenia, Erdogan said that he hoped that foreign ministers` decision to continue to hold such meetings would contribute to regional stability and solution of regional issues.
Noting that he had had the opportunity of holding a series of bilateral meetings during the summit, Erdogan said that he had reviewed bilateral and Turkey-EU relations with the Italian, Spanish and Slovenian prime ministers.
Recalling that he had held a detailed meeting separately with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev and Afghan Head of State Hamid Karzai, Erdogan said that he had met with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder prior to last night`s banquet and held a brief exchange of opinions. Erdogan said that he had held several meetings with all heads of state and government during NATO meetings.
Erdogan added that the Istanbul summit was a well-timed, beneficial and successful meeting in terms of steering the NATO`s future, Turkey`s promotion and bringing importance of Turkey to the forefront.
ERDOGAN: ``SEMINARY ISSUE WAS DISCUSSED DURING MY MEETINGS AT SUMMIT``
Erdogan said that reopening of the seminary on Heybeliada island in Istanbul had been discussed at some of his meetings he held within framework of the NATO Istanbul summit.
Erdogan held a press conference after end of the summit and answered questions of reporters.
Asked whether the seminary issue had been brought onto the agenda, Erdogan said, ``yes, the seminary was brought onto the agenda and I said that our study on the issue had been under way. As you know that the real source of the problem was its closure in 1971 under a constitutional court decision. Our relevant institutions have been conducting necessary study on the issue. We will act according to the result of the study, but we seek if there are any other ways out.``
Erdogan said that he had also met with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis during the summit and it was a very positive and sincere meeting.
Asked of his opinions about use of tear gas by police against demonstrators who protested NATO summit, Erdogan said, ``policemen fulfilled their duty while civil organizations used their democratic rights.``
Erdogan said that policemen fulfilled their tasks successfully at the point of deterrence.
Replying to a question on Turkey`s European Union (EU) membership process, Erdogan noted that they approached the EU from the point that there was not any problem regarding negotiation process.
Erdogan said that Turkey took very important steps on its membership process, stressing that they expected the report on Turkey that would be announced by the EU Commission in October would be positive.

(MS-EÖ-AÖ) 29.06.2004