STATE MINISTER YILMAZ ON SOLUTION OF MIDDLE EAST PROBLEM

Anadolu Agency
May 19 2010
Turkey

DUSHANBE (A.A) -Turkish State Minister Cevdet Yilmaz said on Wednesday
that, "we don’t want to see any more road maps in solution of the
Middle East problem, we want to see the end of the road."

Addressing the 37th Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Organization
of Islamic Conference (OIC) held in Dushanbe, Yilmaz said all the
negotiations initiated in the region should reach a result.

Yilmaz said Israel-Palestine indirect talks were positive, however
direct talks and a process envisaging solution of the problems in a
specific timetable should follow this.

Referring to Iran’s nuclear programme, Yilmaz said foreign ministers of
Turkey, Iran and Brazil signed a declaration as a result of intensive
efforts, "this declaration is the victory of dialogue and diplomacy. We
hope this declaration will constitute a positive environment for
the solution of the problem pertaining to Iran’s nuclear programme
through negotiations."

Yilmaz said Turkey would maintain its "responsible" role in its region
and expressed expectations from the international community to extend
full support to the peace process.

"Turkey is against any kind of nuclear weapons, however supports
the idea that every nation has the right to use nuclear energy for
peaceful goals," Yilmaz noted.

Commenting on Afghanistan, Yilmaz said Afghanistan recorded significant
developments since 2001, yet noted that, "however, there are still
many things to be done. The most important is to assist Afghan people
to establish only on administration structure."

-PAKISTAN-INDIA

Yilmaz said Pakistan was one of the countries which was directly
affected by the worse conditions in Afghanistan, adding that Pakistani
government on the one side has been endeavouring to restore democratic
values in the past two years and on the other side deals with
terrorism. The Constitutional Amendment passed by Pakistani Parliament
is the most important step taken on the way to democratization".

Yilmaz said Turkey supported Pakistan’s constructive policies in the
dialogue process it carried out with India.

-FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM-

Yilmaz said countering terrorism was one of the most important
problems of the day, noting that, "terrorist activities can not have
a legal excuse. Long and bitter experience of Turkey on the matter
indicate that one country can not cope with terrorism unless there
is not international solidarity and cooperation. To this end, Turkey
supports any kind of efforts aiming at eradicating terrorism."

-CYPRUS PROBLEM-

Yilmaz said UN negotiations regarding solution of Cyprus question would
resume in the last week of May, and added that, "as it was reaffirmed
in the letter sent by TRNC president Dervis Eroglu to UN Secretary
General, negotiations should continue in line with the constructive
spirit of Turkish Cypriots. Being the motherland and the guarantor
country, Turkey actively supports a comprehensive solution process."

Yilmaz said blockade on Turkish Cypriots lacked legal basis, and
called on unjust isolation on Turkish Cypriots to be removed. "Turkey
wants all OIC member countries to extend support to this process with
high level visits, encouraging cooperation in every area and allowing
inauguration of representations of TRNC."

-TURKISH MINORITY IN WESTERN THRACE

Yilmaz said Muslim Turkish minority living in Western Thrace of
Greece continued to struggle against serious problems with respect
to minority rights. "By violating international law, people there are
not allowed to elect their own religious leaders, administer their own
organizations, and express their ethnical identities. They do not have
the equal opportunities in finding jobs or participation in politics."

-UPPER KARABAKH-

Yilmaz said Turkey exerted extreme efforts last year to restore peace
and stability in the Caucasus, "peaceful solution of Upper Karabakh
problem between Azerbaijan and Armenia through talks constitute the
heart of Turkey’s efforts."

Referring to normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations, Yilmaz said
Turkey was determined to boost the efforts.

-TURKEY RUNS CANDICACY TO HOST 2014 LEADERS’ SUMMIT-

Yilmaz said Turkey was eager to host OIC summit in 2014, and noted
that Turkey was ready to extend any assistance to Egypt which will
host next year’s OIC meeting.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress