FM BABACAN HIGHLIGHTS TURKEY’S RISING IMPORTANCE

Oct 31 2008
Turkey

Babacan reminded that Turkey attracted the attention of the whole
globe for its efforts to find peaceful solutions to problems.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Friday that when looked at
from Asia, Turkey is an extension of Europe into Asia and when looked
at from Europe, it is an extension of Asia into Europe.

Speaking at a panel discussion within the framework of the meetings
of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Istanbul, Babacan said that
"Turkey is both an European country and an Asian one."

"Istanbul is a city with one side in Asia and the other side in
Europe. Turkey is at the same time a country that belongs in the
Balkans, Caucasus, Black Sea and Asia. Situated in such a crossing,
Turkey is a member of NATO and a country walking down the way towards
full EU membership," Babacan said.

"Turkey has taken many initiatives for the solution of problems in
the region through peaceful ways. Turkey began the project of the
‘Alliance of Civilizations’ after which more than 70 countries and 15
non-governmental organizations declared themselves as the ‘friends’
of the project," Babacan said.

Babacan reminded that Turkey attracted the attention of the whole
globe for its efforts to find peaceful solutions to problems.

As such, Turkey received the votes of 151 countries out of a total of
192 countries and became a non-permanent member of the United Nations
Security Council, Babacan stressed.

"Turkey connects the North to South and East to West. Turkey is gaining
more global importance as a country neighboring energy sources,"
Babacan said.

"Within the framework of finding peaceful solutions to problems, Turkey
proposed the Caucasia Cooperation Platform which received favorable
response from Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia," Babacan said.

"Georgia will join the platform after Russia completely withdraws
its troops from Georgian territory," Babacan noted.

Reminding that Turkey closed down its border with Armenia after
Armenia invaded Azerbaijani territory of Upper Karabagh, Babacan
said that Turkey has encouraged both Azerbaijan and Armenia to find
a solution to problems between themselves.

"There is a great potential for commerce and cooperation in the region
once the problems are resolved," Babacan also said.