KIRKUK - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Turhan Comez, who is in the Turkish delegation visiting Iraq, said on Tuesday, ''Iraqi people like Turkey since Turkey is not an occupying force, and did not accept the motion. Also, Turkey is a Muslim country having historical and neighborly ties with Iraq.''
Responding questions of the A.A correspondent, Comez said, ''we observed the cruel face of war in every corner of Iraq. Iraqi people have been experiencing a painful period. There is a serious shortage of electricity, water, oil and diesel fuel since facilities have not been running. There is not security. Iraqi people expected that U.S. soldiers would provide an atmosphere of peace after Saddam Hussein was overthrown. However, their hopes have begun to fade away.''
''Recent events in Kirkuk were results of the tension in the country. Due to lack of authority, anarchy has been dominant on these lands,'' he said.
Noting that they had held very important meetings during their visit to Iraq, Comez told the A.A correspondent, ''we came to Kirkuk to heal wounds of Turkmen people. We visited some Turkmen families. We conveyed some messages and Turkey's sensitivities to the governor of Kirkuk. We told him that Turkey wants Iraqi people to live in peace. Iraqi people like Turkey since Turkey is not an occupying force, and did not accept the motion. Also, Turkey is a Muslim country having historical and neighborly ties with Iraq. All Iraqi people including Shiites, Arabs and Kurds, say, 'if Turkish soldiers are deployed in the region, they should not come together with U.S. soldiers. They should be deployed in a separate region. They should act on their own. Turkish soldiers should solve our problems and protect us. They should not act as occupier. Turkish soldiers should come to the region as a friendly and peaceful force.' When we return to Turkey, we will convey their views and our impressions.''
Meanwhile, AK Party deputy Cevdet Erdol said, ''Iraqi people are opposed to occupation and occupying U.S. soldiers. They are positive about dispatch of Turkish soldiers under some certain conditions. They want Turkish soldiers not to work with U.S. soldiers. They want Turkish soldiers to be deployed in a separate region.''
Turkish Red Crescent team has been accompanying the deputies. Comez and Erdol a Kurdish and a Turkmen families and provided them with food aid.
Later, Comez and Erdol left for Baghdad after wrapping up their meetings in Kirkuk.
(UK-AÖ) 26.08.2003