LONDON - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that Turkey has to deal with many problems in foreign policy.
Addressing the British "Royal United Services Institute" in London, Babacan listed the problems in foreign policy as Middle East, Israel-Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran's nuclear program, Balkans and situation in southern Caucasia.
Babacan said, "beyond all those problems, Turkey had to tackle many invisible and asymmetric problems in the post-cold war era. Terrorism as well as illegal migration and drug trafficking are at the top of the list."
Turkish FM said a multi-lateral approach, including military, economic, cultural and political dimensions, is required to eliminate terrorism, noting that PKK, based in north of Iraq, was the biggest terrorism threat against Turkey.
Babacan said Turkey extended strong support to Europe on defense and security over the past decades, and added that "Turkey expects the same continuous support from its European friends and allies."
Separately, Babacan said Iraq was an important matter for Turkey, noting that Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity have vital importance. He said Turkey did its best to boost political dialogue between different groups in Iraq.
Commenting on Turkey's EU membership process, Babacan said Turkey has been in a very big transformation process on the way to membership.
Babacan said reforms continued even if they slow down from time to time.
Speaking about the situation in Cyprus, Babacan expressed Turkey's readiness to support a solution in the basis of the U.N. parameters, noting that Turkish party assumed a cautious optimism.
Babacan emphasized the developments in Turkish economy, adding that Turkey would become one of the 10 biggest economies of the world in the next 15 years.
"Turkey is located on the most important energy route of the world and would have an extremely important position among the alternative energy resources of the EU in the medium and long term," Babacan said.
(AY)