Gul: A Mistake Was Made Against Turkey That Should Have Not Been Made

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday about detention of Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq on July 4, ''a mistake was made against Turkey that should have not been made.''
Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Gul described the event as ''distressing''.
''A serious mistake was made against Turkey that should have not been made. This event should have never occurred between the two allied countries. Highest-level meetings were held with U.S. officials. We held telephone conversations with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell,'' he said.
Recalling that Supreme Allied Commander and U.S. Forces in Europe Commander General James Jones came to Turkey, Gul said that a fact-finding committee was formed to investigate detention of Turkish soldiers.
''A serious mistake is in question. It was decided to form some committees to prevent such events once again. Permanent committees will work to make relations between Turkey and the United States more healthier and made Turkey's assistance in rebuilding process of Iraq more meaningful. A statement will be made on these issues later,'' he added.
(UK-AÖ) 15.07.2003