Gull underlines Turkey's ties with neighboring states

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gull stressed Thursday the importance of Turkey's relations with neighboring and regional countries.

"Turkey considers relations with its neighbors a dimension that enhances its foreign policy," Gull said in a statement in the first Studies International Conference held in Istanbul.

He criticized the so-called "steady realpolitik" saying "this kind of policy is not enough particularly regarding the international policy, justice, opinions, values and traditions should also be taken into consideration."

Gull considered diplomacy in the 21st century as a joint effort on both local and international levels, "peoples all over the world should understand each others more than any other time."