President Gul addresses UN general assembly

President Abdullah Gul yesterday delivered a speech at the 63rd term UN General Assembly meeting in New York, US. Underlining Turkey's role on regional issues, Gul asked support from the General Assembly for Turkey's candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Gul said that Turkey extended full support to the efforts to find a political solution on Cyprus, adding that any solution should be based on a new state with two founding states of the equal status. Stating that that the Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform proposed by Turkey would make a contribution to peace in the region, Gul said that Turkey also took part in reconstruction of Afghanistan. In related news, Gul met with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan also attended the meeting. During the meeting Gul and Zardari agreed on Turkey hosting a trilateral meeting including Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul within one or two months. Afghan President Hamid Karzai had reportedly accepted Turkey's proposal.