ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Saturday that the consultation between Turkey and Egypt on all regional problems was of great importance for stability and peace in the region.
Babacan met Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit who came to Ankara on an official visit. The ministers held a joint press conference after their tete-a-tete meeting.
"Both Turkey and Egypt have a sound will to further improve their bilateral relations. Last year, Mr Aboul Gheit and I signed Turkey-Egypt Framework Document for Strategic Partnership in Istanbul. The document envisages that foreign ministers and undersecretaries of the two countries would pay reciprocal visits at least once every year. Mr Aboul Gheit`s visit is the first one," he said.
Babacan recalled that Turkish President Abdullah Gul officially visited Egypt in January, adding that they wished to host Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Turkey soon.
"Mr. Gheit and I had the chance to exchange views on many regional issues and recent developments in the Middle East. We also assessed the bilateral relations between Turkey and Egypt," he said.
Referring to economic and commercial relations between the two countries, Babacan said, "our bilateral trade volume increased to 1.5 billion USD in 2007. It is expected to reach 2.5 billion USD by the end of 2008. More than 150 Turkish companies are operating in Egypt and their investments exceeded 800 million USD."
As for recent developments in the region, Babacan said, "Israeli-Palestinian talks are now in a critical stage. Also, preservation of stability in Lebanon is of great importance and Israeli-Syrian indirect talks continue. We appreciate Egypt`s efforts to safeguard an atmosphere of tranquillity in Gaza. We all want that the issue of Iran`s nuclear program will reach a solution through dialogue. Turkey and Egypt have similar views about all these issues. Therefore, the consultation between Turkey and Egypt on all regional problems is of great importance for stability and peace in the region."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit said that President Mubarak of Egypt was planning to pay an official visit to Turkey in a few months.
He said that today`s talks focused on developments in the Middle East and Caucasus and the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
Aboul Gheit said that Egypt welcomed the indirect talks between Israel and Syria, which Turkey mediated.
(UK)
(DIP)