WASHINGTON - Turkish Ambassador in Washington Faruk Logoglu said on Monday that as long as terrorism threat which stemmed from PKK/KADEK continued, Turkish soldiers would continue to stay in north of Iraq.
Delivering a speech at a luncheon organized by Turkish-American Business Forum, Logoglu said that strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States was in its place and underlined that Turkey was the most appropriate partner in re-building process of Iraq for the United States.
Logoglu said that north of Iraq continued to be a ''potential problem'' and it continued to be a sensitive issue for Turkey and noted that Turkish soldier would continue to be in that region.
Stating that concept of ''single Iraq'' was important, he said that the latest developments in Kirkuk could be a beginning step for spoiling it and it could spread to Mosul and other places.
Logoglu said, ''no ethnic group in north of Iraq should be allowed to have a privileged position.''
Stating that if Turkmens or Assyrians had an advantageous position in the same way, Turkey would express its view on that point in a similar way, Logoglu stressed that political re-building should be consistent with ''single Iraq'' concept.
Logoglu noted that aim of Turkish soldier's being in north of Iraq was to prevent components of PKK terrorist organization and stated that as long as this threat did not vanish and terrorism threat continued, Turkish soldiers would continue to stay in north of Iraq.
Stating that Turkey and the United States did not have any problem regarding that issue, Logoglu said that there was a continuous dialogue concerning north of Iraq between the two countries.
He said that Turkey wanted two Iraqi Kurdish groups not to fight against each other, trade to continue and it also wanted Iraqi Kurdish groups to fight against PKK terror organization and to cooperate with Turkey. Logoglu said that Turkey wanted Iraqi people to have a good life.
Stating that after the parliament's decision on Iraq, there was a big disappointment in the United States, Logoglu said that Turkish-U.S. relations were harmed, but not destroyed.
Logoglu said that he fully believed in power of Turkish-American relations after this experience.
Noting that relations between the two countries would continue to be depended on each other, he said that strategic partnership was based on joint interests and strong values including, democracy, rules of law, human rights, freedom for everyone and justice.
Logoglu said that vote on deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey in the parliament was held in a framework that could be proud and noted that motion was not approved with a very slight margin and a democratic result was reached.
Logoglu said that he did not personally accept the result of vote, but he was pleased with the result in the name of democracy. Noting that the United States should not resort to punishment by anger because something that it wanted very much did not happen, he said that Turkey and the United States would need each other.
''Things in Iraq are not going well. Steps should be taken immediately. Iraqi people and international organizations should deal with the issue,'' he said and noted that Turkey was ready to make more important contributions in an Iraq where countries including Denmark and Poland had a role.
Logoglu said that Turkey had close relations with Iraq which stemmed from the past and noted that mutual interests of Turkey and the United States could be ensured with working together in Iraq.
He said that Turkey was the most appropriate partner in re-building process of Iraq and underlined that Turkey re-opened its embassy in Iraq.
Stating that hundreds of Turkish companies launched initiatives to participate in projects both in Iraq and the United States, Logoglu said that American companies would have opportunity to choose companies with which they would establish partnership. He added that he was hopeful about this issue.
Logoglu said that Turkish companies were very successful and competitive and added that he hoped that American companies would see it.
Logoglu said that strategic partnership and friendship between Turkey and the United States was still in their place and underlined that he expected that this partnership would continue within the scope of national interests of the two countries.
Upon a question on basic points which Turkish-U.S. strategic relations were based, Logoglu listed fight against terrorism, joint interests in Iraq and Syria-Iran, fight against mass destruction weapons and making democracy widespread in the region as some of these basic points.
(EÖ-AÖ) 20.05.2003