ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted on Tuesday a luncheon in honor of Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-Utri, who is paying an official visit to Turkey.
In the luncheon, Erdogan expressed Turkey's concern over the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and said that it was not possible to reach a peaceful solution with violence and terrorism.
Erdogan expressed Turkey's determination to further improve cooperation with Syria.
Erdogan said that the Middle East could not reach the desired peace and stability due to ongoing problems and conflicts.
Erdogan noted that restoring regional stability could be possible by ensuring a constructive cooperation and an atmosphere of understanding among regional countries, and stressed importance of efforts and cooperation of Turkey and Syria to reach this target.
''Protection of rights of brother Palestinian nation, end of their problems as soon as possible, and giving Palestine the place it deserves in international community are prior foreign policy issues of Turkey. It is not possible to reach a peaceful solution with violence and terrorism. There is no alternative than 'a road map' for a solution. What the parties should do is to take concrete and constructive steps under this road map and without losing any time,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan also said, ''on the other hand, we believe that all canals in the peace process are very important and inter-connected. Besides Israeli-Palestine canal, revival of Syrian-Israeli and Lebanese-Israeli canals should be the main target. Turkey is ready to help parties whenever it is asked to.''
Iraq's future closely concerned two neighbor countries Turkey and Syria, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said that preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and national unity was of utmost importance.
Participation of Iraq in international community, as a free and sovereign country which was in harmony with all ethnic groups within its territory, and with its neighbors, was their common target, Erdogan noted.
Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to support Iraq's efforts to reach this target.
Al-Utri, in his part, said that Syria and Turkey were two countries having important place in regional and international platforms.
Their main target was fair and comprehensive peace in the region, al-Utri said.
Al-Utri appreciated Turkey's attitude, its efforts for peace, support to struggle of Palestinian people, and support to Syria in its fight against merciless U.S. sanctions.
Syrian Prime Minister al-Utri also appreciated Turkey's ''wise'' attitude towards Iraq issue, and stressed importance of preserving Iraq's territorial integrity and unity, ending occupation of Iraq, and ensuring Iraq's national sovereignty.
(BRC-AÖ) 13.07.2004