Gul: U.S.Should Fight Against P.K.K./kadek Whether Or Not Turkey Sends Soldiers To Iraq

NEW YORK - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said late on Thursday that the United States should do what was necessary about the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK whether or not Turkey sent soldiers to Iraq.
Speaking in the ''World Leadership Forum'' held by Foreign Policy Association in New York, Gul said that the United States, who included PKK/KADEK in its list of terrorist organizations, should fight against it whether or not Turkey made a decision on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Gul noted that Iraqi people suffered much from the old administration and what was important was to settle democracy in that country and form a government which came to power by elections.
Turkey was very helpful to Iraq and worked together with the United States, Gul said.
Gul stated that most of humanitarian aid to Iraq and logistic support to U.S. soldiers were sent from Turkey.
The 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan agreement signed a while ago between Turkey and the United States should be evaluated in that framework, Gul said.
Gul noted that the United States wanted to help countries which were affected by Iraq crisis and which cooperated with itself.
Economic and political reforms in Turkey were welcomed, Gul pointed out.
Gul said that economic figures pointed upwards.
Replying to a question, Gul said that Turkey was a secular Muslim country and pointed to importance of freedom of religion and expression.
Gul noted that the government surprised some circles with the political and economic reform packages passed after it had come to power and stressed that their prior target was to become a European Union (EU) member.
Foreign Minister Gul said that friendship of United States and Turkey was rooted in history and it could not be forgotten.
Turkish and U.S. soldiers fought together in Korea and served Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan together, Gul stated.
Noting that Turkey's relations with its neighbors were very well, Gul said that Turkey was getting prepared to act like a catalyst in Armenian-Azerbaijani issue.
(BRC-AÖ) 26.09.2003