ISTANBUL, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Abdullah Gul said here on Wednesday that he was confident that Iraq will emerge from its upcoming elections stronger than before.

    The president made the statement in a meeting with the head of Iraq's Islamic Supreme Council Ammar Abdulaziz Al-Hakim in Istanbul.

    Gul said that Turkey stood at an equal distance to all segments of the Iraqi society. Turkey attached great importance to dialogue with all groups of Iraq.

    "Iraq has entered a critical period of elections. I believe that Iraq will complete the elections being stronger than before," Gul was quoted by the semi-official Anatolia news agency.

    Al-Hakim, on his part, said that they paid high attention to consultations with Turkey. "We are happy to see Turkey on the side of Iraq."

    Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey attached great importance to re-building of Iraq's future by all ethnic groups in Iraq in peace and brotherhood.

    "Turkey sees upcoming (parliamentary) elections in January as a historic milestone in which such a brotherhood will be exhibited," Davutoglu said.