Middle East Needs Transformation Process, Babacan
SHARM EL-SHEIKH - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that Middle East needed a transformation process, however that imposition of this from outside would not have positive consequences.
Babacan addressed a session "Fresh Strategies for the Middle East" organized during World Economic Forum meetings held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
When chairman of the session asked whether Turkey could be a model for the other countries in the Middle East with its "democratic structure and overwhelmingly Muslim population," Babacan said Turkey was going through an important transformation process.
Babacan said reforms were underway in political, economic and social areas, noting that Turkey's EU membership process accelerated this reform process.
Babacan said Turkey was trying to preserve its own identity on one side, and on the other side endeavoring to implement values like supremacy of law, democracy, respect to fundamental rights and freedoms and tolerance.
Referring to Turkey's membership to Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Babacan said all OIC member countries with a regulation adopted during its last meeting held in Senegal committed to implement most of those values.
Babacan said most of the countries in the region were face to face with very big problems like inequality of income, poverty and terrorism, noting that a way out could be found in case NGOs and media form their own dynamics and reforms were made.
Upon a question on Iran's nuclear activities and Turkey's stance on that issue, Babacan said Turkey and Iran had balanced relations. He said the border line between the two countries have remained the same for more than 350 years, adding that Turkey was against nuclear weapons in the region.
However, he said every country has the right to have nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and stated that Turkey recommended Iran to hold more talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The problem can not be resolved by isolating Iran but what would be necessary is political dialogue and diplomacy, Babacan said.
Asked about Iraq problem, Babacan said that Turkey initiated the conference of Iraq's neighboring countries and that the initiative has become one of the most important platforms to discuss Iraq's future.
Pointing out that Turkey was in touch with all groups in Iraq, Babacan gave information about the problem caused by the terrorist organization PKK.
He said recent military operations launched by Turkey targeted only the PKK which is also labeled as terrorist organization by several international organizations such as NATO and the European Union.
Babacan underlined that the problem was not between Turkey and Iraq or between Turks and Kurds.
(TÇ-AY)
