ANKARA, Feb 8 (AFP) - Turkey and Tunisia on Tuesday joined forces in calling for the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and the revival of the long-stalled peace process in the troubled Middle East.
"We think that the integrity and the sovereignty of Iraq should be absolutely protected," visiting Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdelbaki Hermassi told reporters after talks with this Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.
The Tunisian leader hailed the legislative elections held in Iraq in January 30 -- the country's first free election in half-a-century -- and expressed hope that reconstruction efforts would be accelerated in the wake of the electoral process.
Gul, for his part, said the "entire world" should expend efforts to prevent the break-up of Iraq.
Turkey is wary that Kurds in northern Iraq are plotting to take control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk with the aim of making it into the capital of an independent state.
Such a prospect, Ankara fears, may rekindle separatism among the restive Kurdish community in adjoining southeastern Turkey and create regional turmoil.
Hermassi also lent support to the possible revival of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, saying it was "time for peace" in the Middle East and emphasizing the "legitimate demands of the Palestinians for an independent state".
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas met Tuesday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh -- the first meeting between the most senior Israeli and Palestinian officials in more than four years -- raising hopes for a breakthrough in the volatile region.
Hermasi is set to meet President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Culture Minister Erkan Mumcu before leaving Turkey on Thursday.
02/08/2005 13:11 GMT - AFP