Turkey positive on Arbil conference - FM

"When the idea of such a conference was first relayed to us, we conveyed our view that the conference should not become an avenue for propaganda of certain undesired groups. But if the conference was held with an eye to its planned goals Turkey would welcome it," Babacan told a televised interview.

"The important thing here is to get results and I believe the organizers of the conference will act sensitively on the issue. I hope the conference will achieve its goal, which is to create an agreement between Kurdish groups about the terrorist organization PKK," he said.

"At a time when Iraq is going back to normal and Turkey is making strong reforms in democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms, the presence of this terrorist organization is just wrong," he said.

However, Babacan said it might be wrong to raise expectations from the conference: "It would be wrong to say that the conference would solve everything once and for all, but nevertheless it is an instrument."

Responding to a question whether the United States asked Turkey to use the Black Sea port city of Trabzon to deploy additional troops to Afghanistan, Babacan said such as issue had never come up during talks with U.S. officials.