Labor Minister: Turkey Can't Be Indifferent To Developments In Iraq

LUCCA - Labor and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu said on Thursday that Turkey could not be indifferent to developments in Iraq.
Basesgioglu, who is in Lucca, Italy together with State Minister Guldal Aksit to attend the meeting of ministers of European Union (EU) countries responsible for children, told A.A correspondent that he did not think that any problems would occur when the government brought dispatch of soldiers to Iraq onto agenda of parliament.
''Iraq is our neighbor. We all know that Iraq's stability is very important for Turkey's security. Therefore, we can't be indifferent to developments there. Turkey should not be indifferent to developments in the region and should make crisis analysis. We favor territorial integrity of Iraq and settlement of stability there. We aim to contribute to Iraq's territorial integrity and stability,'' Basesgioglu said.
Basesgioglu noted, ''an instability in Iraq may spread to whole region, the Middle East and Eurasia. Therefore, stability should be ensured in Iraq and a democratic administration should be formed in this country. I think that it will be more appropriate if Turkey served Iraq within the scope of a project pioneered by the United Nations.''
He did not think that any problems would occur when dispatch of soldiers was brought onto agenda of parliament, Basesgioglu added.
(BRC) 25.09.2003