ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that they had decided to send five million U.S. dollars of aid to Iraq.
Erdogan opened a photograph exhibition at the Parliament's Hall of Honor, which displays photographs about Kizilay's (Red Crescent) humanitarian aid to Iraq.
Speaking at the opening, Prime Minister Erdogan said that pictures and situations which had not been desired, occurred after the war in Iraq.
''We fought a lot and worked hard for peace. In these efforts, we expended in both third world countries and Europe, Middle East and Balkans, we unfortunately failed to provide peace and war erupted.''
''We all know what war brought along throughout the history. Besides, wars of the 21st century can't be compared to wars of previous centuries. And people seriously pay the cost of these wars. Children, women and defenseless people are lost here,'' he said.
Erdogan said, ''as Turkey, we should do our best in terms of sending humanitarian aid, particularly foodstuffs. We should keep our doors open at this point. By operating two hospitals, our Red Crescent recovers health of people who are sick and were wounded with its medicine and humanitarian aid.''
Announcing that they had decided to send five million U.S. dollars of aid to Iraq and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was responsible for this transfer, Erdogan said he wished the war in Iraq would be last war in the world.
Replying questions about explosion in a cafe in Ankara, Erdogan said necessary statement and information would be released after the investigation.
When asked whether or not it was a terrorist act, Erdogan said, ''it is one of the causes, of course.''
When recalled of the news that Kurds had overtaken control of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, Erdogan said, ''no, there is not such a clear thing. These are all made-up things.''
(MS-AÖ) 20.05.2003