ANKARA (AA) - ''Everybody in the Middle East is more hopeful to attain peace in the Middle East. Turkey will have a very big contribution in this process because it is one of the countries to which both parties trust,'' Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday.
Justice & Development Party (AK Party) political group convened today under the leadership of Gul.
Gul said Turkey was a country which attracted the attention of not only the region but also the world.
Gul said Turkey succeeded to get a date from the EU on December 17th to start full membership negotiations, and noted that there were lots of things to do from now on.
Gul said ''Turkey became a different country after December 17th'' and noted that ''there are significant changes in internal policies and economic development of countries which started negotiations (with the EU). This cannot be realized overnight, however, we will altogether see how important they are in the medium and long term. When we consider the past of the countries which started negotiations, we can very well see the acquisitions of peoples. I am sure that Turkish people will also have all those.''
-NEGOTIATION TEAM-
Gul said a team comprising politicians and jurists will be set up to carry the negotiations in the best way and to protect legitimate rights of Turkey, noting that, ''related arrangements about the team will be submitted to the Parliament soon. New authorities will be given to the team if necessary.''
Gul also said Turkey has close relations with the Islam world, Turkish republics and its neighbors. ''Those relations add strength to Turkey's power,'' he said.
Stating that Turkey attached great importance to relations with its neighbors, Gul said, ''Turkey's relations with its neighbors is today an example to the whole world.''
Gul said that, ''Turkey is at the same time a European, Middle Eastern and Asian country.''
-ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN DISPUTE-
Gul gave information about his tour to Middle Eastern countries covering Israel, Palestine and Jordan, which took place last week.
Pointing out that the timing of the visit was very important, Gul said, ''the visit coincided with a period when everybody was more hopeful to attain peace.'' He added that ''a new atmosphere'' appeared after the demise of Palestinian Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat.
Stating that Palestinians now elected their new leader, Gul said ''We congratulate Abbas and we believe that Palestinians gain more strength after the elections. They have proved to the whole world that an Arab country may have a democratic election and elect its president democratically. I believe that radical reforms can be made after the elections,'' Gul stated.
-TURKEY'S IMPORTANCE-
Gul emphasized that changes were going on in Israel, and recalled that Israeli Parliament endorsed the government comprised of parties representing the right and left.
Stressing that both Palestine and Israel were expected to contribute to peace process, Gul said stopping terrorism and assassinations would constitute the first step to halt bloodshed and tears in the Middle East.
Gul said that both sides have expressed positive views on this issue, adding that Syria and Lebanon, whose territories were under occupation, should not be disregarded in the Middle East peace process.
Gul said Turkey did its best for the inclusion of those two countries in the peace process.
(AY-ULG)
2005-01-11