ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Sunday, ''we have been carrying out an active peace diplomacy to prevent a possible war. We cannot sit and wait for developments. It is certain that results of a possible war in the Middle East will affect all countries in the region seriously.''
Addressing journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Egypt, the second leg of his tour to Middle Eastern countries to find a peaceful solution to the issue of Iraq, Prime Minister Gul said, ''I believe that I will hold beneficial contacts in an important country like Egypt in when our region has been experiencing a sensitive period. I will meet with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt who has played important roles in world diplomacy. I believe that this meeting will give me important ideas.'' Recalling that he was scheduled to meet with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, Prime Minister Gul told reporters, ''I will be the first Turkish Prime Minister to visit the Arab League. Mr. Moussa is a significant personality in the world diplomacy.''
''Our visit to Egypt aims at finding a peaceful solution to the crisis without a war. We still believe that diplomatic ways have not been exhausted yet. There are many things to do. We should exchange views and take joint concrete steps,'' he said.
Prime Minister Gul said that he would pay a visit to Jordan on Monday and meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Stressing that Jordan was one of the important neighbors of Iraq, Prime Minister Gul highlighted the important of his contacts in Jordan.
''Our bilateral relations with Egypt and Jordan will also be taken up at my meeting with Egyptian and Jordanian prime ministers. We want to further improve our political and economic relations with Egypt and Jordan. We have been carrying out an active peace diplomacy to prevent a possible war. We cannot sit and wait for developments. It is certain that results of a possible war in the Middle East will affect all countries in the region seriously. Therefore, we, as regional countries, should fulfill our responsibilities. Now, Turkey has taken this initiative,'' he said.
Noting that he had held very beneficial meetings in Syria yesterday, Prime Minister Gul said, ''I believe that important developments will occur following these visits.''
He added, ''all these initiatives aim at finding a peaceful solution to the crisis without war. The United States also prefer a solution without war. We understand it from statements of U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has been expending efforts to find a peaceful solution.''
Following his meeting with Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, Prime Minister Gul will be received by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
Gul who is scheduled to meet with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, will spend the night in Cairo.
On Monday, Prime Minister Gul will proceed from Cairo to Jordanian capital Amman. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb of Jordan.
Prime Minister Gul will be received by King Abdullah II of Jordan.