ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that claim that Turkey and Turkish Armed Forces had established some illegal relations in Iraq was ''very ridiculous.''
Responding to speech made by Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentarian Hasim Oral at Parliamentary General Assembly, Gul said that detention of Turkish soldiers by U.S. soldiers in Iraq was an ugly incident which did not fit the United States.
Gul noted that the United States would be sorry when all dimensions of the issue were put forth.
As the government, they did everything after the incident was heard, Gul said.
Gul stated that Turkish military team went to Iraq upon an invitation and everybody was informed about the existence of the team.
Eleven Turkish soldiers including three officers and eight non-commissioned officers were detained by 150 U.S. soldiers who surrounded the building of the special team on July 4, Gul said.
Gul pointed out that initiatives were launched in every level after the incident was heard and the concerned persons were summoned to the Foreign Ministry.
They wanted those who were responsible for the incident to be punished and to apologize from Turkey, Gul said.
Gul noted that Turkey could not accept the incident and it would shake confidence between two countries in his phone talk with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell.
''As far as I know, Powell did not have full information about the incident,'' Gul said.
Gul stated that the Office of General Staff launched military contacts in the highest level at the same time.
Noting that Powell later called himself and said that Turkish soldiers were detained upon an intelligence, Gul said that he told Powell that it was an unacceptable reason and the issue should be solved as soon as possible.
Gul emphasized that U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and that everything that had to be mentioned was said in that phone talk.
''When the texts of this phone talk is issued, maybe you will also appreciate,'' Gul said.
Gul noted that Cheney did not have sufficient information about the detention and Turkish soldiers were released as a result of the contacts.
''This issue is not closed with release of our soldiers. There is no doubt that an explanation should be made and it will be made. Necessary procedures should be made regarding those who are responsible,'' Gul said.
Gul went on saying, ''Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and the Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM) has come to Ankara. A meeting was held in the Office of General Staff with participation of representatives of the Foreign Ministry. A meeting will be held in the level of lieutenant generals tomorrow. Meetings in Sulaymaniyah have been stopped.''
''There are ridiculous claims. Two countries have to talk about these ridiculous claims. The United States has made a mistake in a period when it needs alliance and support of Turkey more than ever. The claim that Turkey and Turkish Armed Forces work with illegal organizations and have such relations is very ridiculous. There is an incident and we will be the followers of this incident. This destruction can't be forgotten. The incident doesn't have any connection with the motion and it should not have. Whatever should be made in a democratic country regarding the motion was made and the parliament made its decision with its free will. Turkey can't act with pressure of any country. If it is said that it is the revenge of the motion, it is very ridiculous. Those who have to feel sorry for the motion are those who caused occurrence of that incident,'' Gul said.
Gul added, ''we don't allow anybody to hurt our pride. It is the United States who lost in this incident, not Turkey. You will also see this.''
CHP parliamentarian Hasim Oral, who spoke before Gul, said that the parliament and public opinion did not know yet why Turkish soldiers were detained.
Oral noted that commission formed to inquire the issue would be insufficient and the issue that should be in fact inquired was the activities of the terrorist organization PKK-KADEK in Iraq.
When concluding, Oral told Gul to once more review his planned visit to the United States.
(BRC-AÖ) 08.07.2003