ISTANBUL (A.A) - 13.06.2002 - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey was not a country that created problems but it contributed to solution of problems through its experiences in terms of its position in the world.
Speaking at the award ceremony of the Turkish-American Businessmen's Association (TABA) late on Wednesday, Cem said that serious progress had been recorded in relations between Turkey and the United States especially in last five years, adding, ''this is important for us and it is important for you too. Because economy and foreign politics, economy and strategy actually constitute two parts of a whole.''
Noting that Turkey was the weakest country in Europe in regard to foreign trade volume with neighboring countries, Cem said that while foreign trade of countries in Europe with its neighbors ranged between 45-50 percent, Turkey's trade witrh its neighbors was still 8 percent, recalling that it had been between 4-4.5 percent five years ago.
Stressing that they had reached 8 percent trade through development of foreign politics relations, Cem explained problems with Syria, Greece and Iran in the past.
Increasing political relations between Turkey and the United States had started to gain strategic characteristics, Cem said and added, ''Turkey and the United States have very interesting positions. Because both Turkey and the United States define same incidents as crisis, problem or opportunity.''
Recalling that Turkey had for the first time held a trilateral meeting by having the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers come together, Cem said, ''it is not bilateral relations but a trilateral action. Now we are having talks. I will meet with the Armenian Foreign Minister probably in coming days in Istanbul. And I will meet with the Azerbaijani officials during or after this meeting.''
Stressing that he hoped Turkey would bring a solution to this important problem in Caucasus, Cem said, ''Turkey approaches not only these issues but also Cyprus and the European Union issues as not a part of the problem but as a part of solution. Now Turkey is not a country that creates problems but it contributes to solution of problems through its experiences in terms of its position in the world.''