Gul denies carrying any message to Syria from any other state
Syria-Turkey, Politics, 11/18/2005

"I didn't carry any message to Syria from any other state," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Thursday.

In statements to reporters in Ankara before leaving to Germany, Gul added that he briefed the Syria leadership on Turkey's view point pertaining to the investigation on assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq al-Hariri.

"The ongoing developments in the region concerns Turkey so it wants to exert efforts to prevent increasing exacerbation because the outcomes will not please any one," Gul said.

"It is so important to interfere in such causes at the appropriate time," The minister added.

Gul denied that he had suggested to hold the meeting of the international investigating committee with Syrian witnesses in Turkey, but noted that "Turkey is ready to exert any effort in this respect," voicing his view that "the UN headquarters would be more adequate for such issues." He noted that he had discussed with the Syrian leadership the situation in Iraq.

Meantime, Turkey is determined to exert more efforts in order to protect stability in the region and avoid new tensions, Gul had said Wednesday.

Gul's comments came during a meeting with Sharaa in which the two officials conferred on the latest developments on the regional and international levels in addition to the mission of international committee following UN resolution 1636.

"Syria will continue cooperation with the international investigation committee to fulfill its mission in uncovering the truth and in order not to have the investigation be used as a political tool," Sharaa said.

On Iraq, viewpoints were identical on the necessity of making the political process in the country a success and preserving its unity.

Previous Stories:
  Gul describes Syrian-Turkish relations as excellent   (10/14/2005)
  Syria, Turkey economic ties increasingly strategic   (10/8/2005)
  Gul: Turkey rejects US pressures on it regarding Syria   (9/30/2005)

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