NEW YORK - Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Saturday that the opening of the border gates with Armenia hinged on the solution of the existing problems.
"The aim of the talks with Armenia is to start the dialogue that would remove the problems. If these problems were solved in this process, then we can have any kind of cooperation, including the opening of the borders, full-fledged relations and broader economic solidarity," Gul told reporters in the Turkish House in New York.
Gul said there was a wide for Turkey`s proposal to set up a platform for cooperation and stability in the Caucasus, adding that an environment emerged to solve the problems in the region including Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Georgia.
Speaking about his meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Gul said he attached great importance to relations with Iraq, adding that he would like to pay a visit to Baghdad soon.
"That is a visit which I would like to have very much. Iraq is a neighbor of Turkey and it is passing through an important period. I would like to show my support for Iraq," Gul said.
The Turkish president also said his country strongly supported efforts to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue, rejecting allegations that Turkey and Turkish Armed Forces did not want a solution on the island.
"Turkish Cypriots said `yes` in the referendum and Turkey encouraged that. But one should not forget that if the Greek Cypriot side said `yes` in the referendum there would be a comprehensive peace and the number of the Turkish troops would be reduced to 600. It is wrong to present the Turkish military as if it was against a solution," Gul said.
(YMB-BRC)
(GEN)