Erdogan: Turkey Cannot Be Indifferent To Middle East

ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey could not be indifferent to the Middle East.
Stating that the United States accepted granting of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan to Turkey without being repaid for 4 years and its maturity would be 10 years and the agreement was signed.
Erdogan said, ''the opposition said that this money is a price for going to Iraq. The opposition should also explain what is the price for not going there?''
Erdogan noted that the amount of interest which should be paid only in 2003 was 63.5 quadrillion.
Stating that Turkey could not be indifferent to the Middle East, Erdogan added that Turkey was a determining factor there.
(EÖ-AÖ) 26.09.2003