Syria's Foreign Minister said on Saturday that Turkey should be supported in its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.

Speaking at the First Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum in Istanbul, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem said that Turkey supported the solution of the problems in the Arab world.

"We should support Turkey in its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council," Mualem said.

Mualem also said that there were strong historical, geographical and cultural ties between Turkey and Arab states, adding that the coordination and talks between the two parties should continue.

Delivering a speech, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud said that Turkey and Arab countries worked together to establish security and stability in the Middle East.

"Arabs have always stated that they are ready for a fair peace to be established within the framework of international law. Turkey can undertake remarkable tasks for the establishment of such peace and stability," Al Saud said.

Speaking at the meeting, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa said that the Middle East was home to political conflicts and special efforts were needed in order to solve these problems.

Moussa said that the Arab world was Turkey's third major economic partner after EU and USA.

Turkey could play a leading role in ending the cultural clash between the Islam world and the West, Moussa also said.

"The Alliance of Civilizations is a major initiative. We are supporting it all. If this clash continues, its damage will be huge," he added.

Abdelaziz Belkhadem, Algerian Minister of State & Personal Representative of the Head of State, also said that Turkey and Arab states shared the same values and had common benefits.

AA