ANKARA - Turkey`s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey supported dialogue to solve the problem regarding Iran`s nuclear program, adding that Iranian foreign minister would pay a visit to Turkey on Friday.
Speaking to private NTV channel on Wednesday, Babacan said that international community had several concerns about Iran`s nuclear program. He added that the problem (about Iran`s nuclear program) stemmed from mutual lack of confidence between Iran and several countries.
Babacan said that Turkey supported countries which wanted to have nuclear technology for peaceful means.
Babacan also said that he would meet with U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley in Ankara on Thursday morning and discuss Iran issue.
Regarding talks between Syria and Israel, Babacan said that efforts to hold talks between the two countries had been underway nearly for one year. He added that when Turkey saw the will for a solution in both countries, it decided to accept the proposal to undertake the mediation role between them.
Babacan said that Turkey was hopeful about the talks between Israel and Syria, otherwise it would be meaningless to undertake a mediation role.
Regarding the fight against terrorism and the support of local administration in the north of Iraq to this struggle, Babacan said that previously Turkey had serious problems with the local administration in the north of Iraq regarding the support to fight against terrorism, adding that in the past the local administration had several expressions that it sympathized with and gave indirect support to terrorist organization. "However, recently, there have been some positive changes in these expressions. The local administration is putting a distance with the terrorist organization and making statements that it is necessary to end the terrorist organization," he said.
Babacan said that Turkey now had direct dialogue with Nachirvan Barzani in the local administration in the north of Iraq as Turkey saw several positive stances from the administration.
Babacan said that the visit of Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Baghdad was considered as an important step for peace, adding that Turkey was one the few countries which kept its embassy open in Baghdad. He said that a Turkish consulate would also be opened in Basra soon.
Babacan also said that the relations of two close countries --Turkey and Iraq-- should not be harmed due to PKK terrorist organization issue. He said that fight against terrorism was a long-term issue, adding that the recent acts of PKK were the outcome of its isolation.
Babacan said that PKK could not find a support anymore.
When asked whether Turkey would stage a joint operation with the local administration in the north of Iraq regarding the terrorist organization issue, Babacan said that Turkey had already had close contact with the central administration in Iraq and they were about to complete an agreement regarding the issue.
(GC-AÖ)
(GEN)