Owais
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Pakistan, Turkey urge diplomatic solution to Iran nuclear row
ANKARA (updated on: April 20, 2006, 20:33 PST): Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday called on Western powers and their common neighbour Iran for a diplomatic solution to the row over Tehran's nuclear program, saying they did not want fresh conflict in their already troubled region.
"Pakistan is against the use of force... Diplomacy must be given a chance," visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told reporters after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.
Pakistan has already paid "a big price" because of the US-led war in neghboring Afghanistan and does not want similar instability on its border with Iran, he said.
"We must try to find a way out and have an inspection regime which Iran has indicated that it will accept, whereby the concerns of the international community can be met and we have a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to this dispute," Kasuri said.
Gul also stressed that "everybody should do whatever they can to resolve this affair through diplomatic means."
The ministers said they also discussed the situation in the Middle East following the formation of a new Palestinian government led by the radical group Hamas.
Kasuri said the vote of the Palestinian people should be respected but urged Hamas to abandon its policies against Israel.
"Hamas will, I have no doubt, realize the responsibilities of power and also assure the international community that it will live in peace with Israel," he said.
Bilaterally, the two ministers stressed the need for more efforts to boost trade and economic cooperation between their countries, which have traditionally enjoyed close political ties.
Kasuri also pledged support for Turkey's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2009-10 and thanked Ankara for the substantial assistance it provided after the massive earthquake that hit Pakistan in October.
ANKARA (updated on: April 20, 2006, 20:33 PST): Pakistan and Turkey on Thursday called on Western powers and their common neighbour Iran for a diplomatic solution to the row over Tehran's nuclear program, saying they did not want fresh conflict in their already troubled region.
"Pakistan is against the use of force... Diplomacy must be given a chance," visiting Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told reporters after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.
Pakistan has already paid "a big price" because of the US-led war in neghboring Afghanistan and does not want similar instability on its border with Iran, he said.
"We must try to find a way out and have an inspection regime which Iran has indicated that it will accept, whereby the concerns of the international community can be met and we have a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to this dispute," Kasuri said.
Gul also stressed that "everybody should do whatever they can to resolve this affair through diplomatic means."
The ministers said they also discussed the situation in the Middle East following the formation of a new Palestinian government led by the radical group Hamas.
Kasuri said the vote of the Palestinian people should be respected but urged Hamas to abandon its policies against Israel.
"Hamas will, I have no doubt, realize the responsibilities of power and also assure the international community that it will live in peace with Israel," he said.
Bilaterally, the two ministers stressed the need for more efforts to boost trade and economic cooperation between their countries, which have traditionally enjoyed close political ties.
Kasuri also pledged support for Turkey's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2009-10 and thanked Ankara for the substantial assistance it provided after the massive earthquake that hit Pakistan in October.
