GUL: ``DOMESTIC DEMANDS SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN REFORM PROCESS IN MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES``
BEIRUT - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday, ``instead of foreign proposals, domestic demands should be effective in reform process in the Middle Eastern countries.``
Gul, who is currently paying an official visit to Lebanese capital Beirut, met with Foreign Minister Jean Obeid of Lebanon.
Holding a joint press conference following the meeting, Gul said, ``the Greater Middle East Initiative was high on agenda of our meeting. According to my point of view, domestic demands should be effective in reform process in the Middle Eastern countries instead of foreign proposals.``
Referring to Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Gul said, ``we believe that Syria and Lebanon should also be included in the peace process. More active efforts should be exerted to accelerate the peace process. Therefore, implementation of relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the Road Map is of vital importance. Turkey is planning to undertake a more active role in the coming period.``
Asked about Israeli violation of Syrian and Lebanese air spaces, Gul told reporters, ``we never advocate violation of air space of any country.``
Noting that the issue of Iraq was another item of their agenda, Gul said that both Turkey and Lebanon were in favor of protection of territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq.
``During the meeting, we discussed the recent developments about the Cyprus issue. We told the Lebanese delegation that embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be lifted,`` he said.
Referring to methods of further developing the bilateral relations between Turkey and Lebanon, Gul highlighted importance of ratification of agreements signed earlier.
OBEID: ``WE EXPECT TURKEY TO UNDERTAKE A MORE EFFECTIVE ROLE BOTH IN IRAQ AND MIDDLE EAST``
Foreign Minister Jean Obeid of Lebanon said on Saturday that they expected Turkey to undertake a more effective role both in Iraq and in the Middle East.
Holding a joint press conference following the meeting, Obeid said that they had agreed to encourage their private sectors to further develop economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Lebanon.
Referring to affinities in policies of Turkey and Lebanon for Iraq, Obeid said that both Turkey and Lebanon wanted a sovereign, peaceful and stable Iraq.
Stressing that Lebanon had been supporting steps taken by the current Iraqi government, Obeid said that the United Nations should undertake a more active role in Iraq.
Highlighting importance of implementation of relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council in efforts to find a solution to Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Obeid said that Israel had been trying to gain time by pursing a policy of violence.
Referring to the Greater Middle East Initiative, Obeid said that reforms should be made by nations of the regional countries in line with their own requirements and conditions.
He stressed that the region could concentrate on reforms after Israeli-Palestinian dispute was resolved.
Obeid noted that they expected Turkey to undertake a more effective role both in Iraq and in the Middle East.
When asked whether or not Lebanon would launch any initiative for lifting of embargoes on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Obeid said that they were opposed to embargoes, adding that building up new walls would not lead any solution in the globalizing world.
Noting that they had signed the decisions made at the summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul about TRNC without any hesitation, Obeid did not give any concrete message about Lebanon`s possible initiatives for lifting of embargoes imposed on TRNC.
(UK) 03.07.2004