Gul In Egypt

CAIRO - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul visited Arab League's Secretary General Amr Moussa in Egypt on Sunday.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal was also present in the meeting.
Moussa said in the meeting that the Arab world has better understood the role, power of Turkey and the role it would bring to the world.
The visit of Prime Minister Gul to the Middle East countries for solution of the Iraqi problem by peaceful methods was welcomed in Egypt after Syria.
The officials of the two countries share the same concerns about the Iraqi problem regarding the sufferings of the region, regional countries and the possibility that the image of the U.S. would be damaged in case of an operation.
Particularly Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian President stated that the image of the U.S. will be damaged if it starts an operation against Iraq without getting international support.
Mubarak and Moussa said that the report of the U.N. inspectors carried great importance voicing their belief that the report will be correct and sincere.
Turkey's contacts aim at finding the things that can be done to prevent an operation, and that Turkey which takes the views of the regional countries can come up with a synthesis as a result of Gul's contacts. Yet Turkey is still worried about an operation.
Amr Moussa voiced his concerns about the problem between Israel and Palestine in his meeting with Gul, noting that all countries recognize Israel, but the border problem between Israel and Palestine still continued.
Moussa said that the report of the U.N. inspectors carried great importance and that Iraq has to continue making cooperation, it has to be open and it should not bring any obstacles. Moussa will visit Turkey soon and this visit will contribute to the relations between Turkey and the Arab world, officials said.
Gul also signed the honourary book of the Arab League and wrote in the special book that ''the developing relations between the Arab countries and Turkey are the sign of the existing deep relation between them. These relations carry great importance for our region which goes through a critical stage. We are sure that the Arab League under the skilful administration of Amr Moussa will launch all kinds of efforts for maintainance of peace. Turkey will cooperate with Arab countries for protection of peace and stability in this part of the world.''
Prime Minister Gul later participated in the interdelegationary meetings headed by Amr Moussa. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ziyal, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Korkmaz Haktanýr, Embassy Charge D'Affaires Nihal Cevik, foreign affairs advisers of Prime Minister Gul Ahmet Davutoglu and Gurcan Turkoglu and Gul's chief secretary Huseyin Avni Karslýoglu attended the meetings from the Turkish side.
Gul said on Sunday that ''we, as the countries of the region have to launch efforts for ending the Iraqi crisis without any war.''
''In case of an unwanted war, the results of that will concern us all and it will make the whole region uneasy,'' said Gul in the joint news conference he held with Arab League's Secretary General Amr Moussa.
Noting that the responsibility of Iraq in this issue is great, Gul said that Iraq has to abide by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council in a very open and transparent way.
Amr Moussa said in his part that the visit of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul to the Arab League is a message to the Arab world, stressing that the League will consult with Turkey on every issue.
Noting that foreign ministers of the Arab League will take up the ''observer status'' of Turkey in their first meeting, Moussa said that the situation in the region is serious and that the Iraqi problem has to be solved peacefully.
Prime Minister Gul said that he was very pleased to visit the Arab League, adding that a Turkish prime minister visited Arab League's headquarters for the first time and that this was very meaningful.
''Observer status was proposed to us in our talks. We are very pleased with it, we welcomed that,'' Gul said. Gul said that many meetings can be organized between Turkey and the Arab League, adding that problems of the region can be discussed at various levels.
Gul said that they focused on many issues that concern the region in the meetings, adding that ''the Palestine issue is one of the most important problems of the region, certainly the solution of this problem will mean solution of many problems in the region. In this respect we welcomed the recent statements of the Arab League.''
Prime Minister Gul said that another important issue is the developments about Iraq, adding that ''all of us are countries of this region and we are all responsible from the developments in the region. We must launch efforts to end this crisis without breaking out of war.''
Stressing that the Turkish government is resolved to further develop its relations with the Arab countries, Gul said that ''there is brotherhood and friendship among our nations.''
Upon a question, Gul said that it was time to find peaceful solutions to the Iraqi problem, adding that ''we are here to this end and we must first of all exhaust all the diplomatic means.''
Responding to another question, Prime Minister Gul said that he was very pleased with the invitation of Turkey to the Arab League as an observer, adding that Turkey is a member of many organizations and that they would also discuss this issue.
''You said that the issue of Palestine is the main source of trouble. Isn't this view contrary to the strategic agreements signed between Israel and Turkey?'' asked a journalist to Gul. Gul said that ''we want to contribute to the solution of this problem. Turkey carries out its relations with Israel also to contribute to peace. Our relations with Palestine are broader and as you know Turkey is not the only country in the region which has relations with Israel. We must fulfill our obligations till the end in order to end this bleeding wound.''
Upon a question on the Iraqi issue, Gul said that they should exert efforts to solve the Iraqi problem by peaceful ways and added that as they are aware of it, they, as Turkey, started those visits and are trying to find what can be done all together. He said that according to the Constitution, the Parliament has to take decisions for certain issues in Turkey.
When asked how he will prevent an operation against Iraq, Gul said that they still have a hope about this issue and added that this subject can be solved in peaceful ways and they should use all diplomatic ways.
When asked whether Turkey's being invited to the Arab League will contribute to the solution of the water issue between Turkey and Syria and Turkey and Iraq, Gul recalled that he visited Syria the previous day and said that the relationship with Syria reached a good point and it is not time to discuss artificial problems. He added that it is time to discuss important projects for future and that they will see that joint advantages are more important as they develop the relationships.
When a reporter said ''United Nations arm inspectors have not found any mass destruction weapons in Iraq yet. What will be the attitude of Turkey, if the United States attacks Iraq by itself?'', Gul said that it is an important subject and the resolutions of United Nations Security Council are very clear. He added that arm inspectors will present a report to Security Council on January 26 and if this report is good, they will prevent war and never join a war. Gul said that the United States President George W. Bush, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan are talking about peace, adding ''they give peace a chance.''
Gul attended a dinner which was hosted by Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Mohamed Ebeid for his honor after the press conference. Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa, Egyptian Information Minister Mohamed Safwat El-Sherif, Foreign Trade Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, Turkey's Cairo Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir and bureaucrats who accompanied Gul in his Egypt visit also attended the dinner.