Gul: Iraq will be discussed in Damascus

ANKARA (AA) – Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul left on Saturday for Syria to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of countries neighboring Iraq.

Speaking to reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Gul recalled that the meeting of countries neighboring Iraq was launched with the initiative of Turkey before the war and stated that the meeting in Damascus was the fourth one of this process.

Gul said that foreign ministers of countries participating in the meeting would be received by Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and stated that he would also pay a courtesy visit to Syrian Prime Minister.

Stating that they would discuss how to make more contributions to Iraqi people, he said that they would also take up how a system which would help Iraq stand on its own legs could be set up.

"Our neighbor Iraq may be going through the most difficult period of its history," Gul said and noted that current circumstances in Iraq were incidents that international society did not want to see.

Gul said that providing security and public order in Iraq, meeting basic needs of Iraqi people and protecting safety of lives and properties of them would help remove pessimism of Iraqi people.

Stating that developments which had been occurred in Iraq recently proved how principles that Turkey defended with determination were vital, Gul said that transfer of sovereignty to Iraqi people, territorial integrity and political unity should be fulfilled in the country.