‘Japan, Turkey can aid Iraq together’

In a written reply Thursday to questions by The Yomiuri Shimbun, Erdogan said he hoped to have discussions on this matter during his visit to Japan from April 11.

"We can undersign important joint projects in third countries by combining Japanese financial power and technology with the experiences and labor force of the Turkish businessmen," he said, highlighting his support for bringing the matter to the table during his visit.

"A climate of peace in Iraq will have positive repercussions in the region as a whole," Erdogan said.

Cooperation between Japan and Middle Eastern countries in Iraq’s reconstruction has a precedent in the government-level agreement with Egypt to provide joint medical and other assistance. Erdogan voiced his hope that the Turkish private sector would be involved in projects funded by Japanese grant aid extended to Iraq.

Regarding the effect that growing demands among Kurdish people in Iraq for greater autonomy could have on Turkey’s Kurdish population, Erdogan said Turkey had "always emphasized the importance of preserving the territorial integrity and political unity of Iraq" and was wary of any attempt by Iraqi Kurds to break away or seek independence.

Erdogan stressed the accomplishments made in improving the fundamental freedoms and democratic rights of his citizens–a prerequisite for the opening of formal negotiations regarding Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

"We’ve achieved this goal to a great extent; there remain only a few steps to be taken to fully comply with the political criteria," he said.

Erdogan said he believed a European Council decision in December on opening accession talks would go in his nation’s favor.

His visit to Japan will be the first by a Turkish prime minister since Tansu Ciller in 1995.