Contacts Of Prime Minister Gul In Syria Described As Active Peace Diplomacy

ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's visit to Syria to find a peaceful solution to the issue of Iraq was described as ''active peace diplomacy''.
During his meeting with President Bashar Al-Asad of Syria, Prime Minister Gul stressed that Turkey had been extremely sensitive about Iraq's territorial integrity.
Stressing that all kinds of formations in Northern Iraq would concern Turkey, Syria and Iran, Prime Minister Gul noted that borders in the region should not be changed.
Meanwhile, President Al-Asad said that they had the same sensitivities as Turkey, noting that the Arab League had persuaded Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to accept United Nations weapon inspectors, however, the United States had not displayed an objective and coherent attitude.
Al-Asad said that large-scale design which the United States had been planning to make in the region, would distress regional countries.
Noting that expectations of the U.S. public opinion and plans of U.S. President George W. Bush had incited a possible war against Iraq, President Al-Asad said that oil reserves were the cause of this crisis.
Pointing out that Iraqi opposition did not have the power and organization to take over the administration immediately after a possible operation, President Al-Asad expressed his concerns about a chaos that would last long.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gul said, ''we have the same concerns about Iraq. Iraq is like Pandora's box. This box should not be opened. Iraq should not disintegrate because it will be impossible to put everyone back into that box again.''
Both Prime Minister Gul and President Al-Asad stressed that a possible military operation against Iraq would cause a serious damage in economy of Turkey and Syria.
Meanwhile, Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership process was also brought onto agenda of the meeting Prime Minister Gul and President Al-Asad.
President Al-Asad said that Turkey's progress in the EU full membership process had excited Syria. He said that Turkey's EU process constituted an important model for Arab countries about relations with the West, and added that the EU had been applying double-standard against Turkey.
Diplomatic sources said that Syria's attitude following the meeting between Prime Minister Gul and President Al-Asad had encouraged Turkey.
Prime Minister Gul's visit to Syria to find a peaceful solution to the issue of Iraq was described as ''active peace diplomacy''.
The same sources enumerated results of Prime Minister Gul to Syria as follows:
Although the sides got information about their positions from the press, they held the first face-to-face contact,
Turkey and Syria invited Iraq to act clearly and transparently about the United Nations weapon inspection till January 26,
The sides gave a message to the United States to refrain from methods that would lead to a instability in the region,
The sides decided to hold perpetual contacts to act together,
Syria, a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council, is the only regional country that will take place in the active decision-making process. Therefore, Syria's attitude about the issue of Iraq is of great importance,
The crisis does not concern only the United States and Iraq. It became a multilateral crisis. Regional countries should take initiative in this crisis that will affect first neighboring countries, then regional countries.