Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan of Turkey

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ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Tuesday the targets of economy were as important as the targets in the area of politics.

Speaking at a conference on "Turkish Foreign Policy, Inclinations and Priorities" in Ankara, Babacan said countries should have an economic structure which would overcome possible global crises with minimum loss.

While expressing opinion about the US presidential candidate Barack Obama’s promise to recognize false “Armenian genocide”, Babacan said it would seriously damage relations between Ankara and Washington.

Babacan had the duty to steer a painful economic reform program, which was backed by multi-billion-dollar IMF loans; with its help Turkish economy achieved a remarkable recovery after two severe crises.

As government minister Babacan has attended several international meetings including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and the Bilderberg Group.

Speaking on the newly elected US administration, Babacan said that there could be increased relations between Turkiye and the US with an administration that was open to dialog.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the country has made remarkable progress in the field of human rights under the guidance and expectations of its citizens, and our international obligations, in a message delivered to mark Human Rights Day.

Efforts in this field will be maintained resolutely, Babacan said in his December 10th message to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly.

Asked about Senator Joseph Bidens strategic concept for Iraq, which contemplates division of the country into ethnic enclaves, Babacan said the time for such talk has passed.

s strategic concept for Iraq, which contemplates division of the country into ethnic enclaves, Babacan said the time for such talk has passed.

Ali Babacan was born in 1967 in Ankara.

Ali Babacan is married and has two children.

Turkey is making "intensive" efforts to help resolve the international standoff over Iran's nuclear program, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Thursday.

Military means is not the only solution of the Afghan issue.

Jan 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that an international monitoring group should be formed for a viable solution in Gaza, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

to join Europe, they cited economic reasons.

attitudes, old habits and long-held habits about the law.

companies had shown great enthusiasm at the changes.

experienced ministers" as colleagues.

Ali Babacan was born in Ankara in 1967.

AFP/Getty ImagesAll Things Considered, June 5, 2008 Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan discusses ongoing instability in Iraq, Turkey's efforts to fight Kurdish militants and efforts to broker negotiations between Israel and Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has expressed his optimism over the recent comprehensive talks scheduled to be held in Cyprus.

In a televised interview with the private NTV News Channel, Babacan said on Wednesday that both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots tangibly display their willingness for a comprehensive solution.

Babacan said Turkey is closely interested in the problems of the region and is in close dialogue with the countries of the region.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Monday that Middle East needed a transformation process, however that imposition of this from outside would not have positive consequences.

When chairman of the session asked whether Turkey could be a model for the other countries in the Middle East with its "democratic structure and overwhelmingly Muslim population," Babacan said Turkey was going through an important transformation process.

Babacan said reforms were underway in political, economic and social areas, noting that Turkey's EU membership process accelerated this reform process.

Babacan said Turkey was trying to preserve its own identity on one side, and on the other side endeavoring to implement values like supremacy of law, democracy, respect to fundamental rights and freedoms and tolerance.

Referring to Turkey's membership to Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Babacan said all OIC member countries with a regulation adopted during its last meeting held in Senegal committed to implement most of those values.

Babacan said most of the countries in the region were face to face with very big problems like inequality of income, poverty and terrorism, noting that a way out could be found in case NGOs and media form their own dynamics and reforms were made.

Upon a question on Iran's nuclear activities and Turkey's stance on that issue, Babacan said Turkey and Iran had balanced relations.

Asked about Iraq problem, Babacan said that Turkey initiated the conference of Iraq's neighboring countries and that the initiative has become one of the most important platforms to discuss Iraq's future.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is in official visit to Azerbaijan by the invitation of his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

At press conference the Foreign minister of Turkey Ali Babacan said that, the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations and improving ties between these countries would have a positive impact on the Azerbaijan-Armenia talks over Nagorny Karabakh.

Iran, Turkey hold gas export talks; India to get oil from BTC pipeline; South Stream pipeline talks positive.

Beirut & Ankara - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has offered Ankara's mediation to improve relations between Lebanon and Syria.

following his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Olmert, Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, who formally holds the title of opposition leader, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak were among individuals with whom Babacan had talks on Monday.

6 raid -- a development Babacan has called "unacceptable.

At a joint press conference with Peres on Sunday, Babacan said that during his visit to Israel he was expecting an explanation of what happened, and why it happened.

We have not yet gotten an answer," Babacan said before Peres intervened to halt further questioning by reporters.

In televised remarks from a press conference in Damascus earlier in the day, Babacan said there was no Turkish collusion with its regional ally Israel over the air strike, which Syria said targeted an unused military building.

At the Damascus press conference, Babacan said his country, which maintains good relations with both Syria and Israel, would continue its efforts to achieve peace in the region.

Babacan is on a regional tour that takes in Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Israel, his first overseas trip since becoming foreign minister Aug 29.

In Jerusalem Sunday, Babacan met Israeli Foreign Tzipi Livni, but neither spoke to reporters.