ANKARA - ''We attach importance to efforts for integration of Syria with the world, not its isolation and exclusion,'' said Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal on Thursday.
Speaking on Syrian television, Baykal said, ''Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to Syria was paid in line with preferences of people. Several concerns about this visit were conveyed. This is natural. However, nobody can claim that isolation of Syria is for the benefit of international community. Syria's current policy is in line with expectations, principles, rules and values of international community. Steps which were taken on Lebanon issue are expressions of this.''
Upon a question, Baykal said, ''terrorism is the basic problem of the region. A more obvious attitude should be adopted against terrorism, and a solidarity and cooperation should be established against terrorism.''
''Clashes and military interventions in the region are matters of concern. We struggle against initiatives which aim to drag Turkey into a military clash as a party in the region. This region should be a region of stability which is away from foreign interventions. We think that political structure in this region should be based on a political state understanding instead of an ethnical one. Regional countries should show respect to democracy, human rights and supremacy of international law, and pursue reforms in that area,'' he added.
In response to a question about economic cooperation and relations between Turkey and Syria, Baykal said, ''there should be cooperation in economic development. We should focus on tourism. Also there is a need for a close cooperation in energy area. Actually, our two countries have such an opportunity.''