US plays down Turkey’s UND decision

"Certainly, we are sad to see the assassination, but it’s another one of these horrible acts that shouldn’t keep us from rebuilding Iraq and everybody has a role in that," U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher told a daily press briefing.

He said that all companies had to make their own decision about what kind of dangers they were willing to run.

"But," he added, "We do think that it’s important for everybody to remember the big goal, which is to help the people of Iraq establish themselves as a safe and stable society and we want to keep doing that."

"We’re going to keep supporting reconstruction in Iraq. We’ll make sure we do that," Boucher concluded.

Aksoy: Business should not be affected
Meanwhile, head of the Turkey-Iraq Business Council Ercument Aksoy said the execution of a Turkish employee should not affect Turks doing business in Iraq.

Speaking to an Anatolia news reporter, Aksoy said if military escorts are provided for truck drivers when entering Iraq all the way to their destination and back to Turkey, the incidents could be prevented and the security of trucks delivering goods to Iraq could be maintained.

Noting that the execution should not affect businessmen, Aksoy emphasized that big companies such as Akfen, Tepe and Dogus Group were doing business in Iraq.

According to a report by the Business Council, Turkish exports to Iraq between January and June has been around $886 million. During the period after the war in Iraq, Turkish construction companies earned $39 million from projects only in Suleymaniyah.