ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that confidence should be reinforced and relations should be laid on a robust ground between Turkey and the United States.
Gul, who will start his visit to the United States on Tuesday, replied to questions of A.A correspondent.
Foreign Minister Gul stated that he would hold ''very open, frank and clear meetings'' with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, President George W. Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and State Secretary Colin Powell.
Gul noted that it would be beneficial for the two sides to clearly express their views.
When he was recalled about the views that it would be dangerous for Turkey to get more closer to the United States in that period, Gul said, ''you are right. There were people who said that it would be more correct not to pay this visit. I told them that if they wanted Turkish-U.S. relations to continue within the framework of principles of friendship and cooperation, then the friendly and ally countries should not stay away from each other when problems are in question. In such a case, friendly and ally countries should come together immediately and evaluate the problems. Now, we are doing the same thing.''
Gul went on saying, ''as how the rejection of the motion in Turkish parliament disappointed the United States, but U.s. State Secretary came to Turkey as a calm statesman, now we should do the same thing. Therefore, I consider my visit as a visit paid on time.''
Stating that there could be mutual demands between Turkey and the United States and those demands could be expressed in different levels, Gul said, ''as how these demands are met in democratic countries and as how decisions are taken, it will be done so. Turkey is a more democratic country when compared with the previous years. Everybody should know this. Therefore, deputies in Turkey attach more importance to people. As how members of the U.S. Congress think of 'what those who vote for them are thinking' when they are voting for an issue, there is such a development in Turkey. Therefore, everybody should be aware of this.''
Gul pointed out that there were initiatives to be launched not to mislead the public opinion.
''When we consider the issue this way, there has been some wrong behaviors in previous weeks. And, a different point of view has started to occur in the Turkish public opinion. I think that we have to put these on the right track again,'' Gul said.
Gul stated that the United States had expressed its intention to lay relations on robust ground in high-level visits paid recently, adding, ''I think that those who want to make business in this region need Turkey's friendship and cooperation.''
GUL: THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS AUTHORITY IN IRAQ, HAS TO FIGHT AGAINST PKK/KADEK AS CONSIDERING IT AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
Gul said that Turkish military existence in the north of Iraq had the aim to take preventive measure against PKK/KADEK and for observation and he added that whole world knew this.
Recalling that Turkey defended territorial integrity and independence of Iraq, Gul said that it was out of question of Turkey's saying that it would keep its soldiers forever in another country.
Gul said, ''Iraq's authority is under the control of the United States and Britain at the moment. Thus, the authority which rules Iraq should concern with whole Iraq and should show that it does not leave an empty space and a vacuum in Iraq. Then, we look at this; what did the United States say after September 11? It has made a critical separation as those supporting the terrorists and those who do not. Now, as the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK takes place in the terrorist organizations list of the United States, it has to fight against an organization which it considers as terrorist within its authority zone. We do not have to stay there after seeing that there is not such a danger and the authority on that land completely controls there.''
While replying questions how PKK would be eliminated and how Reassociation Law, which was on the agenda of Parliament, would function, Gul said, ''the government is now giving a last chance to all terrorist organizations. It says, 'come, your path is not true; return to your home.' Those, who are members of terrorist organizations, but have not participated in an activity, will come and return to their homes on the same day. The government is giving this chance. This law will be adopted these days. But, the leaders of terrorist organizations will not benefit from this law. If there are people to insist in spite of this law, to struggle with them is the mission of the authority of that land. They will catch them and hand over to Turkey.''
When asked whether the United States gave assurance about this issue, Gul said, ''the United States has to give such an assurance. They already did this categorically and they said, 'those who are supporting and who are not shall reveal themselves.' It is out of question to say, 'I do not tolerate my terrorist, but I tolerate your terrorist.' Thus, it will do what is necessary about it if it is the authority of those lands. If there is no authority on those lands, our forces will carry on its position there.''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson had earlier stated that if there was to be any communication with the terrorist organization PKK in north of Iraq, it would be made by informing Turkish government.
Asked if Turkish government had been informed about communication of the United States with the terrorist organization PKK so far, Gul said, ''if there are such things, they are secret. They are things which can occur between intelligence organizations. Therefore, we don't believe that the United States will give any privilege to a terrorist organization. It won't act so. Big countries don't do it.''
Gul said, ''everybody in north of Iraq is our relatives. Both the Kurds and the Turkmens. I have stated this from the outset and it is true. I didn't say it to seem sympathetic. We would like everybody there to be in tranquility. We would like everybody there to be in prosperity.''
There had not been any massacre in north of Iraq for the last ten years thanks to Turkey, Gul stated. Gul emphasized that incidents similar to those in Halapja had not occurred again.
When a new order was being established in Iraq, Turkey could not be expected to have a disagreement with the Iraqi Kurds and it could neither be expected to be in row with them, Gul said.
Gul noted, ''Turkey is in fact protector of all of them. But, wrong things should not be made there. There can be some marginal extreme persons who don't make right evaluations and who run after some dreams. Nobody should be affected by their intrigues.''
Recalling that the United States made a decision unilaterally to release 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan to Turkey, Gul said, ''we think of using maybe 1 billion part of this loan to support Turkish businessmen who plan to make business in Iraq. This support can be made by Eximbank or through any other mechanism.''
Gul stated that the loan had two conditions and the first condition was Turkey's constructive role in restructuring of Iraq.
''Turkey is in fact doing this. All humanitarian aid to Iraq is sent via Turkey. Amount of foodstuff sent to Iraq via Turkey after U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell's visit to Turkey and our compromise has reached 500 thousand tons. Turkish lorries are taking the aid to Iraq. Similarly, oil, fuel oil, water and other needs of U.S. soldiers are dispatched via Turkey. Therefore, Turkey has naturally fulfilled this commitment,'' Gul said.
Gul added, ''second condition is the continuation of economic program in Turkey. The fifth review is to end these days. Any problem is out of question. Only, a new letter of intent has to be prepared and made official. We think that there are not any problems in these issues. That is, the U.S. loan can become operational when wanted. News that Turkey wanted 1 billion U.S. dollars in grants instead of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars in loans is not accurate.''
GUL: WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN CYPRUS ISSUE IS TO REACH A RESULT
When recalled about the evaluations of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas about Annan Plan and asked what kind of a development could be expected from now on, Gul said, ''as you see, many things which can't be fulfilled for 25 years have started to be made. Many confidence-building measures have been taken. What is important is to put forth the path of a permanent solution.''
Gul added, ''you can either link it with Annan Plan or not. It is not important. What is important is to reach a settlement which can be accepted by two sides. Work is carried out regarding this issue. There is still time. I hope that we can reach a result this time when negotiations start.''
Asked if ''he was also saying that Annan Plan was dead,'' Gul said, ''I have told you that what is important is to reach a result. The result can be reached by Annan Plan or some other ways. The path of solution is not important. What is important is to reach a settlement which can be accepted by two sides.''
GUL: GOOD DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR REGARDING IMAGE OF TURKEY
''When big success is recorded in football and music, public opinion is very interested in it. There has recently been other successes which should also interest the public opinion. One of these is the European Culture Award given to Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation by European Cultural Forum for the year 2003. This is an important thing for a foundation in Turkey to win this award. This shows how Europe looks at Turkey and also the change in the EU. Because, the Foundation was giving the same service in the past. Recognition of this service today is very important,'' Gul said.
Gul went on saying, ''also, Prof. Dr. Ali Erdemir won the R&D award in physics, which is an important award like Nobel Prize. He is a Turkish scientist. This is also a positive image. Ahmet Yildiz, another scientist, has become the cover story of Science magazine with his invention named protein movement.''
Stating that there were also new accomplishments in field of economy, Gul said, ''Koc Group has won tender for privatization of Bulgar Telekom. Koc Group joined the tender together with Turk Telekom. They competed with world giants and in the end, they won the tender. These are events which should be promoted, but necessary attention is not paid for them in our country.''
(BRC-AÖ) 21.07.2003