TURKEY’S FOREIGN POLICY MOVES IN THE WEST AND IN THE EAST ARE COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 11:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President Abdullah Gul made clear on Monday
that Turkey’s foreign policy moves in the West and in the East are
complementary to each other, not contradictory. Gul’s remarks came in a
speech delivered at an economic summit during the 25th session of the
Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC)
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Ýstanbul. While
underlining the importance of favoring a two-state solution in the
Middle East process, thus the need for the recognition of Israel
as a state, Gul voiced Ankara’s firm support for the resolution of
the international dispute over Iran’s controversial nuclear program
through diplomatic means.
"Turkey is in intense commercial and economical relations with
both the Western world and Islamic countries. The European Union
membership process pursued by our country and its efforts within
COMCEC are complementary elements of our foreign policy, but are not
elements which exclude each other," Gul told the gathering in his
opening speech.
Citing recent intensified contacts with the Arab League and the Gulf
Cooperation Council as well as with neighboring countries such as
Iraq and Syria, with whom Turkey has established high-level strategic
cooperation councils, Gul urged support for Turkey’s foreign policy
moves.
While touching upon the stalled Middle East process, Gul delivered
separate warnings to the parties involved. Without having a resolution
of the Palestinian issue with the establishment of a Palestinian
state, the capital city of which is East Jerusalem and which lives
beside Israel with secure and recognized borders, it is impossible
to maintain peace and stability in the region, he said.
Turkey will continue playing a "facilitator" role in regards to
the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Gul said, while urging the
international community to use diplomatic means for solution of the
issue. Meanwhile, Gul asked OIC member-countries for support in order
to ease the international isolation of the KKTC, which is recognized
only by Turkey. KKTC leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who also delivered
a speech at the summit, complained that OIC member-countries were
hesitant to take concrete steps toward easing his people’s isolation,
Today’s Zaman reported.