ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that Turkey was monitoring closely developments in Iraq and stated that developments in northern Iraq and taking under guaranty of security of lives and properties of Turkmens were being monitored.
Gul answered to a question with notice of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Aksaray deputy Ramazan Toprak and said that after coalition powers under the leadership of the United States entered Baghdad on April 9, 2003; peshmergas of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) attempted to occupy Kirkuk on April 10 and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) peshmergas' entering Mosul on April 11 followed it.
Stating that it was also seen that Kurdish families, members of PUK and KDP, tried to get benefit from atmosphere of uncertainty which was created by war by entering Kirkuk and Mosul, Gul said that after these developments, Turkey wanted promises which were given to it to be kept, former situation in those cities urgently to be provided again and security of Turkmens' lives and properties to be ensured through initiatives at the United States. He added that otherwise, Turkey conveyed the United States that Turkey would take measures which it considered appropriate.
Gul said that upon these developments, the United States' 173rd Air Airborne Brigade elements were sent to the region and control passed gradually to the United States in Kirkuk and Mosul and mentioned Kurdish groups withdrew from the region to great extent.
Stating that developments in northern Iraq and taking under guaranty of security of lives and properties of Turkmens were being closely monitored, he said, ''Turkish liaison teams were sent to the region on April 12 to make observations at the spot and get first hand information and Turkish embassy in Baghdad restarted to work on May 10.''
Gul said that a delegation from Foreign Ministry visited Iraq on May 15-24 to meet with Turkmens, representatives of several sides of Iraqi people and U.S. civilian and military officials and noted that the delegation also visited Kirkuk and Mosul and it conveyed once again Turkey's attitude about Iraq to Iraqi groups and U.S. officials.
Gul said, ''coalition powers under the leadership of the United States are responsible for tranquility and security of Iraqi people. Authority and responsibilities of coalition powers which still control Iraq were taken under registration with no. 1483 resolution approved by U.N. Security Council on May 22. Turkey closely monitors developments in Iraq conveys its views and proposals regarding developments to coalition powers, especially the United States on every occasion.''
(EÖ-AÖ) 21.07.2003