ANKARA (AA) - Turkey welcomes any country which can make a constructive contribution to Geneva II - peace talks aimed at ending the three year long conflict in Syria - scheduled for January 22, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Levent Gumrukcu told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday.
Gumrukcu said Iran, as an important country in the region, would play a significant role in the process whether it participates in the Geneva II conference or not.
Syrian President Assad cannot be a part of any future government, he reiterated, saying "the core group of the Friends of Syria strongly opposes it and It is also a precondition set by the Syrian National Coalition."
Gumrukcu said an international meeting of the 11 core group of the Friends of Syria would take place in Paris on January 12, ahead of the scheduled talks in Montreux, Switzerland.
When asked about the truck which was stopped on January 1 at the Turkish-Syrian border on suspicion that it was carrying arms to the Syrian opposition, Gumrukcu did not want to make further comment, saying both the interior and foreign ministers made it clear that the truck was delivering humanitarian aid to Turkmens in need of help in Syria.
He also cited the customs ministry, saying all trucks going to Syria from Turkey are X-rayed.
On Israeli compensation for Gaza flotilla victims killed in 2010, the spokesperson said talks were continuing between Turkey and Israel.
"It is an ongoing process. I hope both sides will reach an agreement soon," he said.
In May 2010, Mavi Marmara, a ship in Gaza-bound aid flotilla, was carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials when Israeli soldiers boarded the ships and killed nine Turks aboard, which worsened the relations between Turkey and Israel.
Gumrukcu said the first batch of chemical weapons leaving Syria on a Danish ship to be dismantled was an important development despite delays.
The vessel left the northern Syrian port of Latakia on Tuesday, escorted by Russian and Chinese warships.
"However destruction of chemical arsenal and the positive steps taken in this respect do not resolve severity in the country," he said.
Turkey is following the recent developments in Iraq's Anbar province, west of capital Baghdad closely, Gumrukcu said.
"We will continue to hold talks with Iraqi government as well as other groups in Iraq", he added.
Many civilians and security officers were killed in the latest wave of clashes in Iraqi cities of Fallujah and Ramadi. Iraqi government is fighting against militants who were claimed to have gained control over the two main cities Ramadi and Fallujah in the country's Anbar province.
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