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ANKARA: Gul: Dialogue, Cooperation And Respect ...

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  • ANKARA: Gul: Dialogue, Cooperation And Respect ...

    Anadolu Agency, Turkey
    July 1 2004

    Gul: Dialogue, Cooperation And Respect For Others' Values Are Our
    Basic Principles

    ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
    Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that dialogue, cooperation and respect
    for others' values were their basic principles.

    Gul added that the idea of clash of civilizations was not valid for
    Turkey and Turkey's foreign policy.

    Gul delivered a speech at the closure session of ''Istanbul
    Pan-Atlantic Student Summit'' at Koc University in Istanbul.

    Stating that half of Turkey's population consisted of youths under
    the age of 25, Gul underlined the importance of NATO Youth Summit's
    convening in Turkey.

    Stressing that Turkey was determined to educate youths in political,
    economic and other fields, Gul noted that the government had a
    reformist structure. He added that they attached great importance to
    values of youths.

    Gul noted that Turkey expected to start membership negotiations with
    the European Union (EU) at the end of 2004, stating that they knew
    contribution that Turkey would make to EU, hoping that EU would also
    comprehend it.

    Stating that NATO alliance was based on democratic ideals, he said
    that NATO had responsibility to protect and defend common values.

    Gul said that the alliance had fulfilled this task from the very
    beginning, stressing that it would also continue to take steps on
    protection of freedoms and fight against terrorism.

    Foreign Minister Gul said that the alliance adopted exchanging
    mutually views on every issue as a principle, stating that NATO was
    going through an adaptation process continuously.

    Stating that NATO also undertook significant tasks to improve
    stability in the world, Gul underlined that Turkey attached great
    importance to further improvement of its relations with NATO, EU and
    also regional countries.

    Gul asked students attending NATO Youth Summit to take Turkey's
    messages of peace and tolerance to their countries.

    Replying to a question on their expectations after referenda held in
    Cyprus on April 24, Gul said that Turkey and the United Nations
    extended great efforts for solution of Cyprus issue.

    Noting that Cyprus plan prepared by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
    envisaged a two-sided but united Cyprus, Gul said that the Turkish
    Cypriot side accepted the plan in the referendum, but a historic
    opportunity was missed as the Greek Cypriot side rejected it.

    ''What Turkish Cypriots expect from now on is the lifting of economic
    embargo and travel embargo,'' he said.

    Stating that Turkey preserved its perspective of a lasting
    resolution, Gul called on western countries to keep their promises to
    lift embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side.

    Asked what kind of things could be done to change relationship
    between the Islam culture and western culture for the better, Gul
    said the Republic of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire which had a 600
    years of history attributed importance to tolerance and mutual
    respect.

    Stressing that nobody was messing in religion and language of others
    and nobody was assimilated in Turkey, Gul said that it was proven
    with existence of worship places of three religions in Ortakoy
    district of Istanbul.

    Gul said that Turkey would continue contributing to peace in the
    world and stability in the region.

    Asked what kind of steps that the NATO envisaged to take for
    resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at Istanbul Summit,
    Gul said that Palestinian-Israeli problem concerned not only those
    two regions, but also whole region and the world.

    Stressing that steps for resolution of this chronic problem would
    relieve firstly the region and later the world, Gul said that a road
    map was prepared and a broader platform beyond the NATO discussed the
    issue.

    Gul said Turkey supported such initiatives and would exert every
    effort.

    Asked about matters that had been discussed during his meeting with
    the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Gul said it was a
    very beneficial meeting and both sides were satisfied with the
    meeting.

    Noting that problems between Azerbaijan and Armenia could not remain
    stagnant while partial progress was recorded in other problems in the
    region, Gul said it was a great achievement as the sides were
    satisfied with the meeting in Istanbul.

    Stating that they would hold another meeting in New York in
    September, Gul added that he believed they would record progress in
    resolution of problems through dialogue.
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