Friday, May 20 2005 09:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: Emphasising the need for peace and stability in the Middle East, India has urged the international community to "preserve" Iraq's territorial integrity and extend more support to the peace process in the region, a media report said in Jerusalem.

While calling for "preserving" Iraq's territorial integrity, India has asserted that all sections of the population should participate in the democratic process there.

Underlining the importance of development of democracy in the region, India's special envoy for West Asia, Chinmaya R Gharekhan told a press conference in Ankara that Iraq would be a beginning in the democratisation process in the region, turkishpress.com reported.

He also lauded Turkey for pursuing an active diplomacy in the region, calling it one of the "key" countries in the Middle East.

The Indian envoy held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Turkey's Special Envoy to Iraq Osman Koruturk and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Ahmet Uzumcu.

Recent developments in Iraq and the Middle East peace process were high on the agenda of his talks, the report said.

Meanwhile, Turkey is against the UN draft resolution unveiled by India and other G-4 countries, which seeks an increase in the number of permanent members at the UN Security Council (UNSC), another report said.

Ankara is acting together with the group led by Italy and Pakistan, which support the "B model" envisaging new eight semi-permanent and one temporary membership, as it can serve its interests better, turkishpress.com said quoting diplomatic sources.