ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that Turkey didn't have any secret plan about sending soldiers to Iraq, adding that Turkey would not be a part of the occupation.
Gul and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad Bin Jasim Bin Jabir Al Thani held a joint news conference after their meeting.
Upon questions of journalists about Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq, Gul said that ''if Turkey goes there, it will not be part of the occupation. If we send soldiers there, we will go for ending of the occupation as soon as possible, protection of the territorial and political integrity of Iraq, preventing terrorists to stay there, and making Iraq a country which uses its sources itself. A peaceful Iraq is to the interest of Turkey and the region.''
Gul stated that if the parliament approves the motion, the soldiers will be deployed there for one year, adding ''this clearly shows to the world that nobody should stay there permanently. Iraq should not be under occupation. Those who go there should help Iraq to reach peace and order as soon as possible.''
''It is to nobody's interest to leave Iraq on its own, in chaos. Iraq has to reach stability as soon as possible, control its own borders, protect its political integrity and use its sources itself,'' Gul said.
Pointing out that social, humanitarian and security assistance would be made to Iraqi people, Gul stated that ''Turkey never intends to go there as a police force, or as a military force.''
Upon a question, Gul stated that the number of soldiers and place of mission were not definite yet. When reminded about the statements saying that Iraqi governing council didn't want any foreign soldiers, Gul said that once the parliament gave the authority, the government would contact with everybody.
When asked his view about the statements of IPUK official Barham Saleh, Gul stated that not only Kurdish groups governed Iraq, recalling that Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens and Assyrians were all the real owners of Iraq.
Gul stated that the governing council was not elected, adding that ''for the moment the council should not be in the position on its own of wanting this, not wanting that.''
When asked if there would be a presidential summit about the motion process, Gul said that all units of the state would make evaluations in a coordination.
When asked when would the negotiations with the U.S. start, Gul said that authority would be given to General Staff to have military contacts after getting the permission, adding that Foreign Ministry had already been carrying out the political negotiations.
Upon a question, Al Thani said that the decision of Turkey's asking for permission from its parliament to send soldiers to Iraq was a positive development, adding that Qatar knew very well that Turkey didn't have an eye on any country's territory. Noting that he got detailed information from Gul about the issue, the guest minister said that the development was a positive step in installing stability and security.
Foreign Minister Gul said in his speech that Qatar was a member of Gulf Cooperation Council, adding that Qatar, as a democratic and modern country, constituted a model for its region. Noting that both sides put forward their political will to strengthen their bilateral relations, Gul said that they exchanged views about Iraq and the Middle East issues.
Al Thani said that the aim of his visit was to develop cooperation in all fields, adding that they targeted to strengthen relations in economic, commercial, security and political issues.
Noting that Turkey was an effective country in the region, the guest minister said that as Arab countries, they thought it would be useful to consult with Turkey within the scope of developments in the region. Iraqi issue concerned all regional countries, said Al Thani, adding that they had to hold consultations to install security in the region and they had to assume a role in the region. Al Thani noted that in that respect cooperation had to be made with U.N. Security Council.
Referring to the Middle East issue, Al Thani said that Israel should abide with implementation of agreements and both sides had to refrain from policies which would negatively affect the process. Al Thani said that foundation of an independent Palestinian state was a right accepted by the international society, stating that Israel had to comply with that.
(Öª) 06.10.2003