Tweet
GUL: REFORM IS A NECESSITY, NOT A CHOICE
Turkish Press
June 19 2006
BAKU - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
has indicated, "we accept that reform is a necessity, not a choice
any longer. It is time to take actual steps to advance on reforms."
Delivering a speech in the opening session of the 33rd meeting of
foreign ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in
Baku, Gul said that the Middle East suffered from regional conflicts,
political problems and radical religious violence for years. "That's
why countries should work jointly to assure peace and security.
Turkey strongly supports a secure, stable, democratic and nuclear-free
Middle East," Gul underlined. Stating that Turkey was exerting utmost
efforts for current tension not to be turned into a regional and
global tension, Gul said, "we consider that the problem should be
resolved through diplomatic way."
-IRAQ AND PALESTINE-
"We should exert efforts for Iraqi people to live in peace and
unity. New government (of Iraq) should work for approval of the
constitution. We believe that problems (in Iraq) can only be solved,
if Iraqi politicians give up ethnical and religious arguments,"
he stressed.
He underscored that Turkey was ready to cooperate with Iraq.
In regard to Palestine and Middle East peace process, Gul indicated,
"unity among Palestinian people is one of the important issues. The
other is that Islam world should find a way to assure this unity. And
the last one is that a solution should be found for the two states
(Palestine and Israel) to live together."
-UPPER KARABAKH-
Gul said, "the 'frozen' problems in southern Caucasus have been
hampering efforts to settle stability and democracy in the region.
Today, we are still waiting for Armenia to withdraw from Upper
Karabakh. Armenian occupation forced nearly 1 million Azerbaijani
people to leave their homes. Other international organizations may
not see those people's difficult situation. But the OIC should foresee
what will happen a decade after. We cannot ignore it."
Stressing that Armenia should pursue constructive policies with
neighboring countries, Gul said that Turkey would continue fulfilling
its commitments to this end.
-TRNC-
Referring to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "Turkey and the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have carried out a successful work
under the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan.
However, the Greek Cypriot administration rejected the plan. The
Greek Cypriot administration has still been trying to do everything
to hamper the United Nations' parameters."
"Turkish Cypriot people have still been imposed to isolation. They
have been continuing to live under embargoes in a period in which
everybody talks about globalization," he said.
Recalling that Turkey prepared an Action Plan in January in an effort
to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "the international
community including member countries to the OIC supported our
initiative. We expect all OIC-member countries to support our plan.
Turkish Press
June 19 2006
BAKU - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
has indicated, "we accept that reform is a necessity, not a choice
any longer. It is time to take actual steps to advance on reforms."
Delivering a speech in the opening session of the 33rd meeting of
foreign ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in
Baku, Gul said that the Middle East suffered from regional conflicts,
political problems and radical religious violence for years. "That's
why countries should work jointly to assure peace and security.
Turkey strongly supports a secure, stable, democratic and nuclear-free
Middle East," Gul underlined. Stating that Turkey was exerting utmost
efforts for current tension not to be turned into a regional and
global tension, Gul said, "we consider that the problem should be
resolved through diplomatic way."
-IRAQ AND PALESTINE-
"We should exert efforts for Iraqi people to live in peace and
unity. New government (of Iraq) should work for approval of the
constitution. We believe that problems (in Iraq) can only be solved,
if Iraqi politicians give up ethnical and religious arguments,"
he stressed.
He underscored that Turkey was ready to cooperate with Iraq.
In regard to Palestine and Middle East peace process, Gul indicated,
"unity among Palestinian people is one of the important issues. The
other is that Islam world should find a way to assure this unity. And
the last one is that a solution should be found for the two states
(Palestine and Israel) to live together."
-UPPER KARABAKH-
Gul said, "the 'frozen' problems in southern Caucasus have been
hampering efforts to settle stability and democracy in the region.
Today, we are still waiting for Armenia to withdraw from Upper
Karabakh. Armenian occupation forced nearly 1 million Azerbaijani
people to leave their homes. Other international organizations may
not see those people's difficult situation. But the OIC should foresee
what will happen a decade after. We cannot ignore it."
Stressing that Armenia should pursue constructive policies with
neighboring countries, Gul said that Turkey would continue fulfilling
its commitments to this end.
-TRNC-
Referring to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "Turkey and the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have carried out a successful work
under the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan.
However, the Greek Cypriot administration rejected the plan. The
Greek Cypriot administration has still been trying to do everything
to hamper the United Nations' parameters."
"Turkish Cypriot people have still been imposed to isolation. They
have been continuing to live under embargoes in a period in which
everybody talks about globalization," he said.
Recalling that Turkey prepared an Action Plan in January in an effort
to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "the international
community including member countries to the OIC supported our
initiative. We expect all OIC-member countries to support our plan.