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Foreign
Ministry: It Is Not The Time For Polemics
Anadolu
Agency
Oct
16, 2002
ANKARA - Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said on Wednesday that the developments in
Northern Iraq were under the control of Turkey, stressing that, ''it is not
the time for polemics''.
Speaking at a
weekly news conference Buluc made evaluation regarded with the recent
developments in the region.
''It is not the
time for polemics. The interlocutor of my statements is not the Turkish media
or public. I am calling out to some authorities beyond them. It is the time to
make a calm, foresighted, and realistic evaluation, and within this framework,
the time to refrain from taking steps which will push the region into a deeper
instability.''
Responding to a
question about the statements of Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) leader
Massoud Barzani, Buluc said, ''if the goal in those statements is to
'intimidate', I am unwilling to use the word 'threaten', the Turkish state and
public, who contributed to the well-being of Northern Iraqi Kurdish community,
this is an extremely inappropriate and irrelevant approach which Northern
Iraqi Kurdish community would not adopt and consider it beneficial for their
own interests.''
Responding to
another question, Buluc said, ''it is not possible for me to share the
evaluations that developments in Northern Iraq went out of control of Turkey.
Consultations which we carried out with the United States in various levels
show us that political targets of both Turkey and the United States coincide
on whole of Iraq and with respect to Northern Iraq. Thus, it is not possible
to speak about a difference.''
Responding to a
question about Ankara's Iraq policy, Buluc said consideration was shown to the
issues uttered in Ankara during the talks held with the Iraqi Kurdish leaders,
adding that Ankara's official policy was formed under the light of those
contacts. Buluc said the assurances given within this framework preserved
validity.
Upon a question
about recent developments in Northern Iraq, Buluc said, ''there has been an
authority gap in Northern Iraq since the Gulf War. If an important number of
people have to live together, it is natural to form an organization to meet
requirements of these people. Turkey has supported this organization, and done
its utmost to facilitate formation of it. The most important thing for Turkey
is that temporary characteristics of these arrangements should be maintained.
Leaders or representatives of Kurdish community in Northern Iraq did not say
anything contrary during their contacts with Ministry of Foreign Affairs
officials. Namely, they have not made any statement about preparations to
found a state.''
Responding a
question about news stories claiming that Turkey could enter Northern Iraq
before the United States, Buluc said, ''we hope that such a development would
not happen.''
When asked whether
or not Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command General Tommy
Franks would come to Turkey, Buluc said that they had not received such an
information from the General Staff.
Referring to the
letter sent by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to convention of the
parliament in Northern Iraq, Buluc said, ''we saw that letter. We think that
the letter does not include any wrongful expression. The most important thing
is that Northern Iraqi leaders should not misunderstand the matter.'' |
