ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''Turkey and Vietnam have agreed to support each other for non-permanent membership to UN Security Council.''
Gul held a joint news conference on Monday with Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien of Vietnam who is currently in Turkey for official meetings.
Meanwhile, Turkish and Vietnamese foreign ministries signed a memorandum of understanding on establishment of a political consultation mechanism between the two countries.
Gul said, ''Turkey opened its embassy in Vietnam in 1997. Now Vietnam sent a permanent ambassador to Turkey. They will open Vietnamese Embassy soon.''
Gul said that they discussed how they can develop economic and political relations between Turkey and Vietnam during the meeting.
On the other hand, Nien said that relations between the two countries are developing, adding that during their meeting they discussed political, economic, cultural and touristic issues. He said that Vietnam and Turkey which have a large economic potential should cooperate more.
Nien said that they are pleased with Turkey's support to Vietnam for membership to UN Security Council.
Upon a question about Iraq, Gul said that the future of Iraq will be discussed in the conference which will be held in Brussels on Wednesday.
Gul noted, ''the important thing for Turkey is Iraq's being a democratic country in the region as well as preservation of territorial and political integrity of that country.''
''Stability in Iraq will be for the interest of Iraq, Turkey as well as the whole region. Turkey not only expressed view about the issue but also took de facto steps,'' he noted.
When reporters recalled that main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) claimed that signing Ankara Agreement Adjustment Protocol violates national interests and it tabled a motion to open general debates on the issue in the parliament, Gul said, ''the protocol will be submitted to parliament in any case. Parliament will approve it, and then CHP will express its views.''
Gul noted, ''after negotiations, a text emerged which we liked. The protocol will be signed when all technical preparations are completed. Then, it will be submitted to parliament.''