Gül defends Turkey’s foreign policy at COMCEC meeting

 Gül’s remarks came in a speech delivered at an economic summit during the 25th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in İstanbul.

    The speech to a large extent focused on the main aspects of Turkish foreign policy. Gül apparently used his speech at the summit as an opportunity to respond to arguments suggesting the presence of a shift in Turkey’s foreign policy orientation. Some international commentators have argued that Ankara may be slowly turning its back on its Western allies and seeking to regain its status as a regional power in the Middle East.

    While underlining the importance of favoring a two-state solution in the Middle East process, thus the need for the recognition of Israel as a state, Gül voiced Ankara’s firm support for the resolution of the international dispute over Iran’s controversial nuclear program through diplomatic means.

The COMCEC summit was attended by 11 heads of state, with Sudan’s internationally indicted leader, President Omar al-Bashir, canceling his expected visit to the summit in a last-minute decision. Bashir’s possible attendance almost overshadowed the 57-nation body’s summit, which has been billed as an economic summit to discuss trade and anti-poverty measures.

In addition to those 11 heads of state, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, representatives from 41 OIC member states and from observer states -- the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia -- attended the summit.

“As a concrete indication showing the evaluation of global developments and geographical needs together, Turkey is in intense commercial and economical relations with both the Western world and Islamic countries. The European Union membership process pursued by our country and its efforts within COMCEC are complementary elements of our foreign policy, but are not elements which exclude each other,” Gül told the gathering in his opening speech.

Citing recent intensified contacts with the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council as well as with neighboring countries such as Iraq and Syria, with whom Turkey has established high-level strategic cooperation councils, Gül urged support for Turkey’s foreign policy moves.

“Turkey and Iraq signed 48 memorandums of understanding. We are determined to turn the Mesopotamian basin into a zone of joint stability and welfare through projects in a wide range of fields such as energy, commerce, health, public works, water resources and transportation with the support of COMCEC member-countries,” he said.

While touching upon the stalled Middle East process, Gül delivered separate warnings to the parties involved. Without having a resolution of the Palestinian issue with the establishment of a Palestinian state, the capital city of which is East Jerusalem and which lives beside Israel with secure and recognized borders, it is impossible to maintain peace and stability in the region, he said.

Turkey will continue playing a “facilitator” role in regards to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, Gül said, while urging the international community to use diplomatic means for solution of the issue.

 Meanwhile, Gül asked OIC member-countries for support in order to ease the international isolation of the KKTC, which is recognized only by Turkey. KKTC leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who also delivered a speech at the summit, complained that OIC member-countries were hesitant to take concrete steps toward easing his people’s isolation.