Erdogan: Necessary Steps Will Be Taken At The Right Time

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday, ''necessary talks are being held on detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq. Necessary steps will be taken at the right time. The Republic of Turkey does have the power and determination to take such steps.''
Responding questions of journalists, Prime Minister Erdogan said that he would hold a telephone conversation with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney later in the day.
Noting that the Turkish delegation had been continuing talks in Suleymaniyah, Erdogan told reporters, ''I hope that this problem will be resolved as soon as possible. I also hope that these developments would not overshadow current positive atmosphere between Turkey and the United States.''
''Both the General Staff and our government have been expending efforts in coordination to resolve this problem, ''he stressed.
When asked whether or not Turkey had given a note to the United States, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''there is a law among the states. You cannot exaggerate some events in a strategic partnership which has been continuing for years. There may be different things lying under it. Before investigating them in detail, you cannot take such steps. Necessary steps will be taken at the right time. The Republic of Turkey does have the power and determination to take such steps.''
ERDOGAN: ''OUR EFFORTS CONTINUE IN COORDINATION WITH THE GENERAL STAFF AND THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE''
Erdogan said that initiatives for release of Turkish soldiers in Iraq were under way.
''We know that several statements had been made on the event in Iraq. We never allow such statements to deceive our people. Besides, we don't allow anybody to play with the honor of the Turkish nation. Nobody should doubt about it. We have been following the event. We have been doing what is necessary since the beginning of the event in coordination with the General Staff and the Presidential Office.''
GUL: IT WILL HARM OUR RELATIONS
Gul said, ''I held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell again. I told Mr. Powell that if solution of the event took a long time, it would harm our relations. I also noted that such an event between the two allied countries was incomprehensible.''
Responding questions of journalists, Gul said, ''we have been continuing to expend intense efforts. Mr. Powell called me on the phone overnight and gave information. I told him that the event should be resolved as soon as possible. If solution of the event takes a long time, it will harm our relations. I said that our public opinion is uneasy. I also noted that such an event between the two allied countries was incomprehensible. Meanwhile, Mr. Powell told me that they had been doing their utmost. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold talks with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.''
Responding a question about allegations about preparations for assassination of the governor of Kirkuk, Gul said, ''when I asked reason of the event, Mr. Powell told me that they had received such an indirect information. I stressed that none of those allegations was acceptable.''
GUL: ''WE HAVE MOBILIZED ALL OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR NORMALIZATION PROCESS OF IRAQ''
Gul said, ''we have mobilized all our opportunities for normalization process of Iraq. Humanitarian aid has been sent to Iraq via Turkey.''
Speaking at the provincial congress of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in central province of Kayseri, Gul referred to detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq.
''We want a broad-base government to come to the political power in Iraq soon. As Turkey, we have been contributing to Iraq to this end. Humanitarian aid has been sent to Iraq via Turkey. More than 200 thousand tons of foodstuffs have been sent to Iraq via Turkey. Gasoline and many other requirements of Iraqi people have also been met by Turkey. Recently, we have experienced a distressing event. This event cannot be explained in any manner. There is a distressing situation between the two allied countries. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok and I have been expending intense efforts since the moment we received information about the event. We held highest level talks. We hope that the event would be resolved as soon as possible without harming our relations with our ally. Turkey has displayed in clear attitude. We suppose that the event in northern Iraq was a local event. We believe that U.S. officials will resolve the problem as soon as possible,'' he said.
CICEK: ''WE SHOULD ASSESS DETENTION OF TURKISH SOLDIERS CALMLY''
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said on Sunday, ''instead of making estimations, we should assess detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq calmly and take a decision. This attitude will be beneficial to Turkey.''
Responding questions of journalists, Cicek said, ''the General Staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been expending intense efforts since the beginning of the event. A delegation of officials from the General Staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs left for Suleymaniyah yesterday to hold talks with officials. Their reports are of great importance for us in regard to our future steps. On all levels, we told U.S. officials that such an event could not be accepted. We stressed that such events should have not occurred. We also conveyed sensitivity of Turkish public opinion on the issue.''
''Because of the national day of the United States, we have difficulties in holding talks with our U.S. interlocutors. Most of relevant U.S. officials are out of capital for national holiday. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted on holding a telephone conversation with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. This conversation will be held later in the day. Then, we will make a detailed assessment,'' he said.
When asked whether or not the event was a message of the United States for Turkey to withdraw its soldiers from northern Iraq, Cicek said, ''we have not received such a request so far. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal paid a visit to the United States last week. During his meetings with U.S. officials, Ziyal said that Turkey targeted to cooperate with the United States in the rebuilding process of Iraq. U.S. officials welcomed this proposal of Turkey. Instead of making estimations, we should assess detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq calmly and take a decision. This attitude will be beneficial to Turkey.''
Upon a question about Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's scheduled visit to the United States, Cicek said, ''Gul will leave for the United States on July 24. There is not any cancellation.''
TUZMEN: ''OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN CONTINUING TO EXERT INTENSE EFFORTS''
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Sunday about detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq, ''our government, especially Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister and Deputy Minister Abdullah Gul, has been expending intense efforts. We should be calm.''
Holding a press conference prior to his departure for Palermo, Italy, to attend the Third Europe-Mediterranean Trade Ministers Meeting, Tuzmen said, ''an unstable atmosphere is in question in Iraq. Such events may occur in this country till settlement of stability.''
Upon a question about Habur Border Gate, Tuzmen said, ''there are, of course, some difficulties at the Habur Border Gate. Last week, 2 thousand 500 vehicles were waiting in Turkish side and 2 thousand 500 vehicles on the other side. We held a series of meetings, and the border gate has been opened completely. However, only transportation of U.N. aid is allowed now due to security reasons. We experienced such events also in the past. I believe these difficulties would in end in the coming days. Continuous transportation at the Habur Border Gate depends on settlement of stability in Iraq. Meanwhile, there is not any problem about exports from Turkey.''
OZYUREK: ''THE PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTERS SHOULD CANCEL THEIR VISITS IMMEDIATELY AND COUNCIL OF MINISTERS SHOULD CONVENE UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE PRESIDENT''
Republican People's Party (CHP) Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairman Mustafa Ozyurek said on Sunday about detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq, ''the Prime Minister and ministers should cancel their visits immediately, and the Council of Ministers should convene under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.''
Responding questions of the A.A correspondent, Ozyurek said, ''on the day when eleven Turkish soldiers were taken hostage, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended several openings in northern province of Samsun and in Ankara while Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul was in central province of Kayseri.''
''Turkish soldiers have never been taken hostage in the history of Republic of Turkey. The government did not consider such a serious event important. The Prime Minister and ministers should cancel their visits immediately, and the Council of Ministers should convene under the chairmanship of President Sezer. All necessary measures should be taken in coordination with the General Staff and the National Intelligence Agency (MIT). Turkish people are extremely concerned about detention of our soldiers,'' he said.
''As members of the CHP, we invite the government to fulfill its duty. If the government fails to fulfill its duty, we are determined to activate all control mechanisms including censure motion,'' he added.
(UK-MS) 06.07.2003