TURKEY TRYING HARD TO SOLVE ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI CONFLICT – PM

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Feb 4 2010
Azerbaijan

Turkish prime minister said on Wednesday that all the countries in
its region had confidence in Turkey and Turkey tried to use such
trust for the foundation of regional peace, Anadolu Agency reported.

Speaking at a conference at the International Strategic Research
Organization (USAK) on the changing balances in the world and Turkey’s
growing global importance, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
that all countries should be treated the same regarding the nuclear
weapons issue.

Erdogan said the notion of justice would be harmed if some countries
were warned and others were tolerated on the nuclear issue.

"If you have a nuclear weapon, you cannot tell another country not
to develop it. In order to demand such a thing, such country should
first destroy the weapons in its hand," he said.

TURKEY-EU AFFAIRS

Upon a question on the relations between Turkey and EU, Erdogan
said that he expected the Spanish rotating presidency of EU to act
differently while negotiating the chapters with Turkey.

Erdogan said Turkey was currently in a much better position than
nearly half of the EU-member states and those who assessed the issue
objectively agreed on such matter.

Regarding Turkey’s EU bid, Erdogan said the country would continue
to fulfill its responsibilities, however, the Union had certain
liabilities in Turkey’s full membership process as well.

"We expect EU to stay committed to its responsibilities," he said.

CYPRUS ISSUE

In his reply to a question on Cyprus issue, Erdogan said UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon’s recent visit to the office of Turkish Cypriot
President Mehmet Ali Talat seriously disturbed the Greek Cypriot party.

Noting that the UN SG had given the best reply to the stance of the
Greek Cypriot party with his visit, Erdogan said, "We will get what
we deserve sooner or later. However, this journey needs patience. We
have nothing to lose, we will win in the end".

Erdogan also said that several countries’ efforts to present the
Cyprus issue as a political obstacle before Turkey’s EU membership,
were totally wrong.

"Obstacles that are not envisaged by the acquis are put in front of
us. This is wrong in terms of the ethics of negotiation," he said.

Erdogan said that the appropriate platform for the solution of the
Cyprus issue was the UN, not the EU.

REGIONAL ISSUES

Commenting on the Palestinian conflict as well, Erdogan said such
issue laid in the center of all the regional problems, adding no
permanent peace or stability could be provided in the Middle East
unless this matter was solved.

Expressing the importance attached by Turkey to the security and
stability of the Gulf region, Erdogan said Turkey also had quite good
relations with the Black Sea countries such as Romania and Ukraine.

Pointing to Turkey’s efforts to initiate the Caucasus cooperation
process, Erdogan said, "We are trying hard to solve the problems
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which we consider a key country in
the region.

Erdogan also called on the Minsk Group to fulfill its duties for the
solution of the matter.

MFA’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Upon a question on whether there would be any changes in the
organizational structure of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA), Erdogan said MFA would start recruiting ambassadors that were
not actual employees of the ministry.

"If those who are offered such positions accept, we desire to appoint
them as ambassadors in different parts of the world," he said.

Erdogan also said that Turkey would open 5 more embassies in Africa in
2010, increasing the total number of embassies in the continent to 27.
From: Baghdasarian