Gul: Turkey suffered significant damage due to wrong statements

Foreign Minister Gul reiterated that he hoped that Iraq war should end as soon as possible with least casualties at speeches he made in Brussels.
Stating that Turkey made clear its role and approach to the Iraq issue, Gul said, ”Turkey does not have a secret agenda in northern Iraq. A country which defends territorial integrity of Iraq and which declares that this is the fundamental principle, cannot have an eye on territories of Iraq.”

Stating that Turkey’s sending its troops to northern Iraq could be in question in some situations, Gul said, ”we don’t want PKK/KADEK terrorist organization to use those territories as a base and we cannot permit that. Besides, if there is a mass migration movement, intervention can be necessary. 500,000 migrants had entered Turkey in a few days in 1991. This time, we won’t permit it and we will provide staying of migrants in northern Iraq. Turkey’s taking measures in such situations will be natural. Turkey’s attitude on that issue is clear.”

Stressing that Turkey has not sent any troops to northern Iraq so far, Gul said that despite this situation, some ministers of many countries showed Turkey as if it was involved in war by their statements. He added that those statements caused significant losses in Turkish economy and noted that there were many cancellations in reservations in tourism sector due to those statements.

Noting that Turkey was shown as if it was involved in Iraq war, Gul said, ”I reproached on that issue.”

Stressing that everyone should be careful not to justify those who claimed that there would be a clash of civilizations, Gul said that he attributed great importance to the view that values and believes of Iraqi people should be respected.

Gul said that Turkey was ready to exert all kinds of efforts on initiative toward speeding up Palestinian peace process.

Gul stated that they took up those issues during his bilateral meetings with NATO Secretary General George Robertson and some ministers.

Stating that financial aid for Turkey was also discussed during his meetings with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, Gul said that the two ministers would visit Ankara in the coming days.

Gul who explained his thoughts in favor of the United Nations’ taking over administration of Iraq after the war said, ”I have said that if NATO also has a duty on the issue, it can be discussed. I said that we also have views on that issue.”

Replying to a question on Cyprus, Gul said that Turkey wanted peace and solution and stated that they did not think that insolubility was a solution. Gul recalled that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan’s plan was rejected not only by Turkish Cypriots, but also the Greek Cypriots. He added that meetings aiming at solution would be held with Greece.

When a reporter claimed that the United States threatened Iran and Syria, Gul said, ”Powell said clearly that it is not true and they do not have such thoughts and plans.” Gul who evaluated his contacts and meetings in Brussels said, ”everyone has approaching the issue that we should look at the future from now on.”

Gul stated that Turkey was also included in coalition list which was announced by the United States and noted that Turkey’s cooperation with the United States remained under the authority which was given by Turkish parliament.

He added that Turkey’s cooperation with ally United States was continuing.