GEBZE - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Saturday that the developments in Iraq showed that regional stability could not be ensured.
Upon questions of reporters about the developments in Iraq, Baykal said that ''it was claimed that there was relative peace in north of Iraq. At this point, life of persons and peace are in danger also in north of Iraq. This is worrying, we share this concern with the public opinion and the government. There are 6,000 PKK/KADEK militants in north of Iraq. Iraq is under the control of the U.S. and no one PKK/KADEK militant was rendered ineffective since the U.S. took command. Unfortunately the government could not pursue a proper policy about the Iraqi issue.''
When asked his views about the first motion rejected in the parliament and the second motion which was on the agenda, Baykal said that ''the non-adoption of the first motion was beneficial for Turkey. It showed that democracy was effective in Turkey. If the first motion was adopted, today 60,000 American soldiers would settle in the southeast Turkey and the time of their leaving the country would not be certain. There is a need of reconstruction in Iraq, north of Iraq and Turkey for stability in the region... The government submitted set of questions to the U.S. and it waits for the answers. Due to that reason no decision can be taken on sending soldiers to Iraq. The part of the second motion that concerns us is how it will affect Turkey.''
(Öª) 24.08.2003