Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Jan 26 2008

Turkish foreign minister views Mideast peace process, relations with
Greece

Davos, Turkish Foreign Minister & Chief Negotiator for the EU talks
Ali Babacan said on Saturday [26 January] that exploratory talks
aiming to resolve problems between Turkey and Greece were underway.

"The meetings will focus more on the solution from now on. Foreign
ministers and prime ministers will personally pursue the
developments," Babacan said while talking to reporters in Davos where
he came to attend World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings.

Commenting on Turkish-Greek relations, Babacan said there was a
strong mutual political will between Turkey and Greece to resolve the
problems.

"Aegean, minority matters and Cyprus are the problems between Turkey
and Greece. Solution of the problems in question will be in the
interest of both parties. There are historical relations. We should
work hard. A window of opportunity has opened but it will not stay
open forever. I think a rapid progress towards solution should be
recorded," Babacan said.

Relations with Armenia

Responding to a question about relations with Armenia, Babacan said,
"elections will take place in Armenia in February. Obviously, we can
discuss the problems more easily in case a government comes to ruling
in Armenia which has a positive stance and is open to dialogue and
cooperation."

Middle East Peace process

Babacan also commented on the Middle East Peace process and said
Turkey was one of the countries that contributed most to the
Annapolis talks.

"We showed our contribution to the whole world by helping some
countries attending the talks. But while talks on things to be done
with the old settlements continued, construction for new settlements
began," said Babacan.

Babacan noted that while Palestinian Mahmud Abbas carried out talks
on behalf of Palestine there was a separated administration in Gaza.

"This two-headed structure is the greatest obstacle in front of the
peace process," said Babacan.

Babacan recalled the recent embargoes and blockades over Gaza and
said "missile attacks launched from Gaza to Israel is wrong. But at
the same time it was wrong for Israel to enforce embargoes and form
blockades around Gaza.

Babacan said Turkey avoided enforcing embargoes on the north of Iraq
in its combat against terrorist organization PKK that would effect
the people over there, despite rising demands.

"If you take measures that would effect people’s daily lives in these
matters, you would only contribute to the enmity against you on the
other side. This will cause the people in the region to side with
those who are against you. Therefore we did not take any measures in
the north of Iraq that would effect the lives of civilians," said
Babacan.