Turkey names candidate for OSCE secretary-general

Gul said that Turkey nominated Ersin Ercin as candidate for Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Thursday, 02 December 2010

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that Turkey nominated Ersin Ercin as candidate for Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

"We received an important support on the matter," Gul said at a meeting with the Turkish reporters in Astana where he attended OSCE Summit.

"We have nominated Ercin as candidate for OSCE secretary-general. Ercin is also my special consultant for European security. I have been introducing Ercin to leaders during the international summits and meetings held in the recent months," Gul said.

Ercin currently acts as Turkey's ambassador in Brazil.

Commenting of OSCE Summit, Gul said it was the first OSCE summit to be held 11 years after 1999 Istanbul summit.

Gul said OSCE had three essential principles, which were finding solution to problems on political and military issues, spread of democracy, law standards and respect to human rights as well as economic cooperation. "Political and military issues come forefront among those principles," Gul underlined.

Gul referred to active role of Turkey in OSCE, noting that Turkey assumed an important role particularly in solution of political problems in Europe through peaceful means.

Gul said the Caucasus, Upper-Karabakh problem and internal problems in Georgia and Moldova were among the important political and security matters OSCE deals with nowadays.

Turkish president said all the leaders attending the summit reaffirmed commitment to principles of OSCE and action plan.

"Meeting with Medvedev"

Gul said he had some bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the OSCE Summit held in Kazakhstan.

Turkish president said his meeting with Russian President Dimitry Medvedev mainly focused on the Caucasus and stability of the region.

Gul underscored that Russia was the most important actor in solution of problems in the Caucasus. "Medvedev and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have good-will in solution of problems. Talks regarding Turkish-Armenian relations and developments in Georgia speeded up during Medvedev's term in office.

"Of course, Turkey is also a very important actor in solution of those problems. I am considering the issue from a perspective including the problems in whole Caucasus. Problems interesting Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan should definitely be solved within a broad framework. I believe that overcoming the problems will be in the advantage of Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia," Gul said.

"Relations with Armenia"

Referring to normalization process in Turkish-Armenian relations, Gul said, "nothing died. We are resolved. We should carry out studies about the ways to achieve it. Difficult problems can not be solved immediately. We should work on them insistently. The problems should be solved in the interests of every party. I believe that this matter should not be retarded. Everybody should remember those experienced between Russia and Georgia two years ago."

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=66931.