GUL: ''SECURITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE MORE BALANCED''
NEW YORK - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday, ''the United Nations Security Council should be more balanced with more members. We believe that representation in the Council should be more extensive and fair.'' Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Gul said, ''we are the leaders of a significant era in which the world has been trying to adapt itself to the new realities, opportunities and difficulties. As United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan indicates frequently, we have the know-how to explain our common concerns.''
-UNIVERSAL PROBLEMS-
''At the end of the Millennium Summit bringing together the world leaders a historic document was released. The Millennium Declaration includes very important and achievable targets for the humanity such as reducing poverty and famine within 15 years, spreading universal primary education, preventing infectious diseases and reducing child mortality,'' Gul reminded.
Gul noted, ''universal difficulties and chronic political-military clashes have gained strength with asymmetric threats such as terrorism, illicit drug trafficking, organized crimes and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and environmental problems. Also, racism, anti-Semitism and prejudiced attitudes against adherents of certain faiths like Islam have aggravated these problems. On the other hand, peculiar and urgent requirements of African continent have been waiting for solution.''
Stressing that the United Nations system should be further encouraged to increase its role in efforts to find solutions to those problems, Gul said, ''a more influential and credible United Nations will be more effective to solve common difficulties we encounter today. The United Nations Security Council should be more balanced with more members. We believe that representation in the Council should be more extensive and fair.''
-''WE HAVE RISEN LEVEL OF OUR DEMOCRACY''-
Stressing that good administration, peace and prosperity were connected to each other both in every country and in the world, Gul said, ''therefore, a reformist global agenda should cover our domestic and international lives. Each member of the international community has the responsibility of putting them into force. The Turkish government has made a serious effort to implement important political and economic reforms in the last two years. As a result, we have upgraded our democracy and deepened it. Besides relevant standards of the United Nations and the European Union, expectations of our people inspired us in our reform process.''
''Thus, I would like to affirm Turkey's candidacy as a non-permanent member in the United Nations Security Council for the period of 2009-2010. Despite all its momentous contributions to peace and security in the world, Turkey could not become a member of the council yet. Therefore, we rightfully expect support of the United Nations General Assembly for Turkey's candidacy,'' Gul added.
GUL: ''I CALL SECURITY COUNCIL TO REPLY POSITIVELY TO CALLS OF ANNAN ABOUT CYPRUS''
Gul said, ''Turkish government pursues a peaceful policy in world affairs. My government supported Annan's goodwill mission regarding Cyprus. We have been in close cooperation with him. The Annan plan was a result of serious talks held between the two sides for 4 years. Those talks were based on bizonal partnership that envisages a federal government and two constituent states. The plan was resorted to referendum in both sides. Annan Plan was accepted by Turkish Cypriots, while Greek Cypriots preferred to reject the plan.''
''I am deeply sorry that such an opportunity (to solve Cyprus problem) was missed. A source of inspiration was lost for those who exert efforts to restore peace in regions like Middle East and Caucasia,'' said Gul.
Noting, ''Annan presented a report to Security Council and clearly expressed that referendum have changed the situation in the island radically,'' Gul said, ''this report confirmed one more time the existence of two politically equal people and their rights.''
Gul also recalled the call of Annan asking for removing isolation and unnecessary limitations, which negatively affect development of Turkish Cypriots.
Noting, ''Turkey pursues its commitment for a permanent peace in Cyprus,'' Gul said, ''although 5 months have passed over Turkish Cypriots' voting in favor of UN Plan, their will to unite the island has not still been rewarded yet.''
Gul called UN Security Council to reply positively to the call of Annan. He asked UN members to take concrete steps on bilateral level to end isolation and punishment of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
-RELATIONS WITH GREECE-
Gul said, ''Turkey will continue to maintain peace and stability in Southeastern Europe,'' adding, ''we are pleased that a progress was recorded in the region by the efforts of international community and Balkan states.''
Gul said, ''Turkey is determined to pursue the promising and constructive relations with Greece. We hope bilateral relations will continue to develop in coming years. Our cooperation extends to every area. This will ease to solve all problems between our countries. This will also bring a milieu of cooperation which will be favourable for peace, stability and security in the region.''
Noting, ''it is time to take concrete steps to end clashes in Upper Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia,'' Gul said, ''as a neighboring country, we support efforts aiming to bring stability and prosperity in the region. While we are assisting the dialogue process, we are also encouraging the parties. We hope clashes in Abkhazia and problems in South Ossetia will be solved by safeguarding territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.''
Gul said, ''Turkish government is for a permanent solution to be found to the Upper Karabakh dispute on the basis of basic principles of international law, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and good neighborhood relations.'' He added, ''we are expecting Armenian government to comply with relevant UN resolutions to reach such a solution.''
Gul said, ''the Middle East dispute, Iraq and Afghanistan, jeopardized stability in the region. The only hope for a comprehensive solution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is in the Road Map. Turkey, which has traditional ties with the parties, has been making an active contribution to efforts to put into force the Road Map.''
''We have been supporting all kinds of efforts to this end. Our efforts should concentrate to resume peace talks between Israel and Palestine. The parties should fulfil criteria cited in the Road Map. Meanwhile, acts of terrorism targeting Israeli people should come to an end. In the same way, intentional destruction of lives and properties of Palestinian people should be ended. Palestinian should be encouraged in their reform process. Propagation of Israel's settlements should stop. Also, Palestinian people's living standards should be improved,'' he emphasized.
-IRAQ-
Gul said, ''we believe that a solution will not be reached (in Iraq) unless a progress is made on all issues, including Syria and Lebanon. We appreciate political efforts of the United States and the international community to rebuild Iraq.''
''However, humanitarian, political and security problems of the Iraqi people have still been continuing. I also want to stress that developments in Iraq also affects negatively Turkey as a neighboring country. The transition period in Iraq does not matter only the Iraqi people. It concerns the whole region and the peace and prosperity in the world. Turkey has been defending from the very beginning that Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity should be preserved. It will be achieved only with equal participation (in the administration) of all sections of the Iraqi population . An increase of the United Nations' influence will facilitate it. Iraq's success will be our collective success, and its failure will be our collective failure. Turkey will continue supporting the Iraqi governing council's efforts to normalize the situation and establish democracy in the country,'' he said.
-AFGHANISTAN-
Noting that Turkey would maintain its traditional support to the Afghan people, Gul said, ''it is among our urgent duties to provide security and stability, and to establish a democratic system in Afghanistan. Afghanistan should be defended against terrorism, extremism and illicit drug trafficking. We believe that the upcoming elections in Afghanistan would be of great importance to this end.''
''Everyone accepts that terrorism does not have any legitimacy. Terrorism cannot represent a religious belief, a nation or a case. Massacre of innocent people anywhere in the world is a crime against humanity. We strongly condemn all kinds of acts of terrorism. As a country which suffered much from terrorism, Turkey has always called on all countries to cooperate with others to fight against terrorism,'' he underlined.
-WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION-
''Turkey believes that control over weapons of mass destruction and on ways and means to sell them should be further strengthened. Also, creation of regions free of nuclear weapons in the world, including the Middle East, is an important means to consolidate peace and security. Turkey is determined to expend all kinds of efforts to maintain peace and stability both in its region and in the world. We will use our multi-dimensional ties and deep relations to reach this target,'' Gul added.

(UK-ULG) 24.09.2004