Erdogan to state Turkey’s position on ME peace at G-8

Turkey wants peace and stability in the Middle East and this will be the message the Prime Minister will take to the summit, scheduled to open Wednesday, Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Çiçek said, following Monday’s cabinet meeting.
“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will leave for the United States this week and explain Turkey’s views about the Greater Middle East Initiative at the G-8 Summit. All kinds of developments in the Middle East affect Turkey. Therefore, Turkey should explain its views at such high-level international meetings.”
Turning to other matters discussed during the cabinet meeting, Çiçek said that Turkey hoped that there would be widespread recognition of its efforts, and those of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), to resolve the dispute on the island.
“Both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have done everything in their power to reach a lasting solution,” he said. “They supported United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s plan for the solution. Neither Turkey nor the TRNC are responsible for continuation of the insolubility.”
Turkey now wanted to see the international community take measures that would end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, he said.