"Last decision after meetings on the issue"

Gul stressed that the target of the EU membership, partnership with the US, EU, Balkans, Caucasian, Middle Asia, Middle East were basic components of Turkey’s multidimensional policies.

He went on to say, "It is true that we have relation with the EU and we are part of the Islamic world. In this way, Turkey represents a global harmony policy."

Referring to developments in 2003, Gul said, "a war was experienced in our neighbor Iraq. However, we succeeded in having the lowest amount of loss. Rooted reforms, which could not be made for years, were fulfilled. We have recorded an important progress in target of our people to reach democratic standards. Also, we have reached a more concrete stage in our EU membership process."

Gul noted, "despite the war and extraordinary conditions in the region, we have succeeded in preserving our partnership with the United States in line with our reciprocal interests and 50-year experiences of alliance. We have expended careful efforts to further improve our relations with all neighboring countries. Also, we have expended all kinds of efforts in line with our target of settlement of security, stability and prosperity in our region. During this period, Turkey has emerged as a central and powerful state serving the peace with positive and concrete contributions. Our government add a new content to the concept of active foreign policy."

Pointing out that parliamentarian democracy was pushing force of Turkish foreign policy, Gul thanked to the parliament for its contributions to foreign policy.

Gul said current risk and conflict map around Turkey and in the world did not change, stressing that further security and stability continued to be the desire of international community.

Gul said the world began to comprehend that fight against terrorism was a global struggle, adding that terror, action and threat were still alive although two years passed after September 11 terrorist attacks.

Gul said spreading of mass destruction weapons threatened societies, noting that instability prevailed global atmosphere, and that international law and institutions were not fully influential to carry out this mission.

Gul said instability prevailed on global atmosphere, stressing that Iraq was still in instability, noting that Caucasus was under the threat of ossified problems.

"Turkey watches with atmosphere with concern but with imperturbability and self confidence," Gul said noting that Turkey was affected by negative effects of the regional problems. Yet Gul noted that foreign policy did not have the luxury to leave those developments to their own course and to expect solution of the problems from others. Gul stressed that Turkey should not be contended with only giving reaction, but that it should cover a active foreign policy.

Stressing that the government attributed importance to restoration of peace and cooperation atmosphere in all regions constituting Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia and Middle East, Gul said, "our foreign policy, which act basing on the understanding that insolubility would not be solution, plays a pioneering role in settlement of compromise and cooperation culture in our region."

Gul said Turkish Armed Forces’s capabilities to protect peace should be made use of in areas where diplomatic and economic contributions were not adequate, adding that Turkish Armed Forces kept in step with military, technologic, scientific, political, diplomatic and cultural changes.