Cooperation in culture and media initiatives would serve as an excellent means to bring the two nations and the two peoples together, Gul stressed, and he strongly urged translation of media and cultural productions in both directions.
When it comes to Turkey’s keenness to sign a free trade agreement with the GCC, he stressed the ultimate end is economic sufficiency and integration rather than increase of bulk of trade exchange per se.
All of Turkey’s agreements with countries of the Gulf, whether political, economic, security related, or cultural aim at helping to maintain the stability of this strategic region.
Still on his country’s foreign policy when it comes to the Middle East, Gul remarked that "the situation is Iraq is still unstable, even with the end of the war, and it is no pleasure to see such continuation of political and security instability in the neighbor country.
Then came Iran, and Gul said the Iranian nuclear dossier is causing much concern as Tehran continues its confrontational path against the west concerning its nuclear program.
Moving on to Palestine, Gul said Israel is very uncooperative and maintains a "hostile and brutal" attitude that pays little heed to international resolutions.
The Turkish president also mentioned Egypt, saying he is waiting to see the result of the democratic transition and the political change.
On these and other issues in the region, Turkey seeks a united and coordinated stance with that of other countries, most particularly the GCC, Arab League, and the OIC.
Closer to home, Gul remarked on the great development his country achieved over the last ten years, and stressed the reforms it initiated had furthered Turkey’s influence regionally and internationally. It also made it an economic power to be reckoned with, and an economic power that surpasses the traditionally dominant powers within the European Union.
On the Islamic orientation of the ruling party, the president pointed out the party is not strictly Islamic in membership and includes elements from many other schools of thought. Furthermore, although he was the founder of the Justice and Development Party, Gul said he cannot take sides on any issue in his official capacity, as stated in the constitution.
The foundation of the party, he added, relied on stress on general values including freedom and the social values widely accepted in Turkey. It was therefore natural for the party to have an Islamic identity since it is in a country of over 90 percent Muslims.
As to whether the party could serve as model for others in the countries affected by the Arab spring, he said Turkey has relations with and shares a great deal of values with Islamic parties that took over in some countries after the revolutions. There are shared ideas to do with democracy and reform, he said. In our contacts with them, we stress that managing the country is the true challenge, not getting to power.
Gul remarked "This need to realize the current situation and its details and deal with it realistically would be communicated to Tunisian officials" during his visit to Tunisia, which is his first and comes over a year after the democratic changes there.
Gul was asked to comment on the Ottoman legacy, amid criticism of some parts of it recently. "The Ottomans ruled a far-reaching empire over six centuries and made some mistakes in the process. However, this does not mean some of the accusations against it from Christian parties are justified; they are in fact political ploys to discredit an opponent." The concern over circumstances in the Middle East, with rising tensions in many parts of the region, is "not cause for alarm or fears of war. Nor do we hope to see any armed conflict in the region." The Kuwaiti press delegation, which started its six-day visit Monday, includes Kuwaiti Journalists Association Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Ahmad Yusef Behbehani, Al-Anbaa daily Editor in Chief Yusef Khalid Al-Marzouq, KUNA Editor in Chief Rashid Al-Ruwaished, Al-Rai Editor in Chief Majid Al-Ali, and Annahar Editor in Chief Emad BuKhamsin.
It also included Editor in Chief of the English daily Kuwait Times Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan, Deputy Editor in Chief of Al-Anbaa daily and visit coordinator Adnan Al-Rashid, and Deputy Editor in Chief of Al-Yaqaza magazine Dalia Behbehani, along with photographer Majid Al-Sabij.
