Istanbul, (SANA)-Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem on Thursday said that the quartet cooperation in light of the high-level cooperation council among Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon constitutes a nucleus which is open to all friendly and sisterly countries.
Al-Moallem was speaking at a press conference held at the conclusion of the 3rd meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Arab-Turkish Economic Forum in Istanbul.
"This cooperation is an economic space in the benefit of peoples of the region, it brings back the common history, geography between Turkey and the Arab world," Minister al-Moallem said.
On Palestine, Al-Moallem said that the Palestinian reconciliation is a Palestinian decision, but this decision, unfortunately, is subjugated to regional and international pressures and conditions that affect it whether in the financial aid or pressures to prevent the Palestinians from achieving the reconciliation, stressing Syria's support to this reconciliation.
The Minister underlined the necessity of breaking the Israeli blockade on Gaza and non-recognizing it, demanding to send aid and reconstruction materials, reminding of the importance of cooperation between the Arab League and Lebanon and Turkey to adopt a UN Security Council resolution that condemns the blockade and calls for lifting it.
The 3rd meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Arab-Turkish Economic Forum was opened today morning with the participation of al-Moallem.
In a joint statement, the foreign Ministers strongly condemned the Israeli crime against the Freedom Flotilla, underlining that it is a terrorist crime, offering condolences to the Turkish people and government on the victims of this aggression.
They underlined the need for continuing efforts to implement the UN Security Council statement and the Human Rights Council resolution to form an international independent investigation committee on this brutal aggression, calling for ending the unfair siege imposed on Gaza.
The statement stressed the importance of preserving the unity and sovereignty of Iraq and achieving its security and stability as well as forming a national government that represents all spectrums of the Iraqi society.
The Ministers welcomed the joint declaration signed in Tehran by Iran, Turkey and Brazil on nuclear fuel swap.
At the conclusion of the Forum's activities, a political joint declaration to found a high-level cooperation council among Syria, Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon was issued to develop a long-term strategic partnership to achieve economic integration among theses countries.
Syrian-Turkish relations are like among brothers in the same family, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
Premier Erdogan was speaking in a speech at the 5th Arab-Turkish Economic Forum which kicked off on Thursday with the participation of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and Minister of Finance Mohammad al-Hussein.
"Peace has not been achieved in Palestine. We don't believe that there is no solution, but some parties want only to preserve their interests," Erdogan said.
He asserted that peace couldn’t be achieved unless the siege imposed on Gaza Strip is lifted.
"We firmly stressed that we stand against all forms of terrorism including state terrorism. We will not keep silent over killing nine Turks through the Israeli state terrorism in the international waters," Erdogan added.
He went on to say" Turkey exerts all possible efforts to achieve stability, welfare and peace in the region."
Erdogan added that Turkey will continue the diplomatic efforts in coordination with Brazil regarding the Iranian nuclear file, describing the imposition of sanctions on Iran as wrong.
"We don't only share the same geography, breathe the same air and live in the same region, but we also have common history, feelings and culture," Erdogan said.
Mazen Eyon/ Ruaa al-Jazaeri /MO
