BAGHDAD - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Balikesir deputy Turhan Comez and Trabzon deputy Cevdet Erdol held contacts on Saturday in Iraq regarding the issue of sending Turkish soldiers to Iraq.
Releasing a speech to reporters after their contacts, Comez said that it was very difficult to keep people together in peace and tranquility in a milieu which did not have security and which had important infrastructure problems. He added, ''unfortunately after seeing the atmosphere here, we see that a new Beirut will be formed beyond our borders.''
Noting that Turkey should fulfill its responsibility in these lands, Comez said that careful, analytical and strategical political decisions should be taken about the issue of sending soldiers. He emphasized that an public opinion should also be formed, if soldiers would be sent.
Comez said that almost all Iraqi people with whom he talked were positive about Turkish soldiers' coming to Iraq, adding that yet their expectation from soldiers was also very high.
Comez said that Iraqi people both expected improvement of the security and also economic conditions in Iraq, adding that the military study to be undertaken had to be politically and economically supported.
''If Turkey is going to send soldiers here, they will be here for the territorial integrity and for peace of Iraq,'' said Comez.
Comez said that there was generally an hostility against Americans among the Iraqi people as the U.S. could not ensure the authority and could not meet the humanitarian needs of Iraqi people sufficiently, adding that ''if Turkish soldiers come to Iraq, they have to be under the Turkish command and they have to be in a region where soldiers of other countries are not present.'' Comez said ''in my opinion, Turkish soldiers should not come to Iraq together with U.S. soldiers.''
(GC-Öª) 23.08.2003