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  • ANKARA: Turkey To Set Up Strategic Cooperation Council With Greece,

    TURKEY TO SET UP STRATEGIC COOPERATION COUNCIL WITH GREECE, RUSSIA

    WorldBulletin.net
    April 26 2010
    Turkey

    Turkey will establish high-level strategic cooperation council
    mechanism with Greece and Russia in May, Turkey's foreign minister
    said on Monday.

    Monday, 26 April 2010 13:14

    Turkey will establish high-level strategic cooperation council
    mechanism with Greece and Russia in May, Turkey's foreign minister
    said on Monday.

    Ahmet Davutoglu told a parliamentary session that Turkish and Greek
    governments would have a joint cabinet meeting during Prime Minister
    Recep Tayyip Erdogan's upcoming visit to Greece in May. Davutoglu
    said such a meeting would also be held with Russia during Russian
    President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Ankara the same month.

    Turkey plans to set up the strategic cooperation mechanism with
    Bulgaria and Ukraine, Davutoglu said.

    Currently, Turkey carries out strategic cooperation mechanism with
    neighboring countries Iraq and Syria. Last year, Turkey and Iraq
    signed 48 agreements, while Turkey and Syria inked 51 agreements in
    this frame.

    "STATUS QUO HAS TO CHANCE IN CAUCASÄ°A"

    On problems in the Caucasia, Davutoglu said Turkey does not want the
    status quo to go on. Turkey aims not to allow discussion or judgement
    of Turkey-Armenia relations in third countries, Davutoglu said.

    "Medvedev will come to Turkey in the coming month and the top issue on
    the agenda will be Azerbaijan's occupied territory. We assume it as
    our own issue and continue to keep it on the agenda on all grounds,"
    he said.

    "Nothing can deal a blow on friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan,"
    Davutoglu said. "Everybody must know it very well."

    Davutoglu gave information to lawmakers also about government's goals
    for the future. He said Turks and Armenians will learn to share pain
    and common history, adding, "they will live together."

    "This is our perspective on peace," Davutoglu said.

    "Parallel to this, occupation of Azeri lands will end and the dispute
    between Azerbaijan and Armenia will be resolved. The border between
    Azerbaijan and Armenia and also the border between Turkey and Armenia
    will open. It means a corridor from Erzurum [a province in the east
    of Turkey] will open through the Central Asia," he said.

    Davutoglu said "Turkey-Armenia relations will become normalized."

    Davutoglu said Turkey would not allow this issue to cast shadow
    on Turkey's relations with other countries anymore, especially on
    relations with the United States.

    "RIGHT TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECATUIONS"

    Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu also said Monday Turkey had the
    right to take the necessary precautions if the protocols signed with
    Armenia were interpreted against the spirit of the protocols.

    Ahmet Davutoglu told a parliamentary session that the protocols would
    be ratified by the respective parliaments when political conditions
    get formed.

    By pursuing an active foreign policy in regions of neighboring
    countries, we want to facilitate the establishment of permanent peace.

    We are at a stage where we are about to establish strategic cooperation
    councils with all of our neighbors, Davutoglu said.

    Within this framework, we signed agreements with Iraq and Syria last
    year. A similar mechanism will be established with Greece and Russia
    next month. We are planning to establish a similar mechanism with
    Bulgaria and Ukraine, Davutoglu said.

    When you consider Turkey's close relations with Azerbaijan and Georgia,
    you notice that the only missing ring is Armenia. We want to develop
    good relations with Armenia based on the respect of borders and
    deepened by diplomatic ties. This is actually a foreign policy based on
    the principle of 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World', Davutoglu said.

    Touching on an Armenian resolution in the United States, Davutoglu
    said that the Turkish government took all the necessary precautions
    on this matter.

    Our goal is not to let third countries interfere in Turkey's relations
    with Armenia, Davutoglu said.

    "CONDEMNED THE INSULTS"

    During this process, Turkey conducts relations with Azerbaijani
    officials in full coordination. Turkey regards the Azerbaijani
    territory under (Armenian) occupation as her own issue. There is full
    coordination with Azerbaijan in this matter. No development can be
    a blow to the friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan, Davutoglu said.

    Our goal is to normalize Turkey-Armenia relations and resolve the
    dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Davutoglu said.

    Wherever they may meet, Turks and Armenians, from now on, will not
    only share pains but also common history and they will be together.

    This is our perspective of peace, Davutoglu said.

    Despite such efforts of Turkey, we have to strongly condemn the
    acts of certain Armenian groups against our flag and symbols of the
    Turkish state. We have always condemned such acts. Yet we know that
    such provocators can not be an obstacle to the implementation of
    our great vision. We will continue to struggle against such groups
    everywhere and at every platform. We will give the necessary response
    to all those offending the honor and history of the Turks. Turkey is
    determined to be the engine of the whole region and will become the
    engine, Davutoglu also said.
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