Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Feb 1 2007
Turkish minister comments on war on terror, US visit, Cyprus on way
to Albania
by Duygu Bayar:
"Foreign minister Gul in Albania"
Tirana, 1 February: Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said that it would be wrong to assign the responsibility
of fighting terrorism solely to special representatives. He added:
"The representatives are doing what is incumbent on them. Our
expectations from them are well known."
Gul answered reporters’ questions on his flight to Albania where he
went for an official visit.
Answering a question on the recent Ankara visit of US Special
Representative on Combating Terrorism Gen (retd) Joseph Ralston, Gul
said that Turkey expects much from the United States in the war
against terrorism and that everyone in the United States, from
President George Bush down to the lowest levels, are aware of this.
Gul said that the United States must fight the terrorist organization
PKK as it fights other terrorists organizations and that, from that
perspective, Turkey’s expectations are even higher.
When asked how long it will take for any results to be achieved in
the battle against terrorism, Gul replied that "what he said earlier
was not a haphazard comment" and added that it would not be right for
him to say more about this issue in view of its nature.
When asked to comment on whether the special representative mechanism
is working, Gul said: "The representatives are doing what is
incumbent on them. Our expectations from them are well known." Noting
that it would be wrong to assign the responsibility of fighting
terrorism solely to special representatives, Gul said that this issue
is the highest-priority problem of the prime minister, the ministers,
and commanders.
Answering a question on his upcoming visit to the United States, Gul
said that the details of the visit have not yet been finalized but
that he expects to convey during this visit Turkey’s views on
developments in Iraq and the so-called Armenian genocide bill that
has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. He added that
this will be an important visit from many perspectives.
When reminded about efforts to organize international meetings on
Iraq, Gul said that he does not believe very large meetings are very
useful and that a meeting on Iraq between the five permanent members
of the UN Security Council and regional countries is a possibility.
‘Was it appropriate for Lebanon?’
When asked whether it was "appropriate for Lebanon" to sign an
agreement with the Greek Cypriot administration at a time when Turkey
has sent soldiers and aid to that country, Gul replied: "Of course,
it was not appropriate."
Gul said that he thinks this situation was the result of the power
vacuum and climate of chaos in Lebanon and that even the Lebanese
prime minister was not aware of the agreement. He added that the
necessary representations have been made, that Lebanon has
commitments on this issue, and that Turkey issued the necessary
warnings earlier.
When asked by a reporter whether the withdrawal of troops from
Lebanon is possible as a reprisal, Gul replied "no."
Gul was then reminded that a law enacted in the Greek Cypriot sector
allows oil exploration and extraction in the eastern Mediterranean
and that the first contract will be awarded on 15 February. Asked
whether this contract will actually be awarded, Gul replied that this
is unlikely. He added: "That cannot happen. If it happens, then
whatever is necessary will be done."
Gul begins contacts
Gul has begun in his talks in Albania where he arrived on a two-day
official visit.
Gul first met with Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj. The two
ministers are expected to hold a press conference after the end of
their meeting.
Tomorrow morning Gul will first attend the meeting of the
Turkish-Albanian Business Council together with Mustafaj. Then he
will be received by the prime minister, the speaker of the
parliament, and the president, in that order.
Gul is expected to return to Turkey tomorrow afternoon after
completing his contacts.