FM Gul welcomes Greece’s offer to reduce defense spending

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said today that he greets warmly his Greek counterpart Papandreou’s offer to reduce military spending and he stated that this was a proof of developing relations between two countries.

Speaking to A.A news agency, regarding Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou’s offer to Turkey to reduce mutualy military spending, Gul stated that these were nice things and it meant development of the relations between the two countries.

Gul stressed that Papandreou’s statement proved that there was a political will to solve any problem with peaceful means.

He went on to say, "I greet his speech warmly and actually Turkey is already started to reduce its military spending.

Gul said that for the first time this year the budget of the National Education Ministry was much more than National Defense Ministry.

He added, "I hope we will have chance to spend our resources for our people’s wealthy. Turkey’s EU membership will more reduce defense spending. Actually no country wants its military spending to be huge amount. Due to obligations it happens. So I find my counterpart’s statement very positive."