ANTALYA - Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem said on Thursday that Turkey had taken the decision to send soldiers to Iraq on its own and stressed importance of preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity.
Replying to questions of reporters during the Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum (FOROMED) held in southern Antalya province, Belkhadem said that preservation of security in Iraq was important for them.
Belkhadem noted that the real issue was not whether or not Turkey sent soldiers to Iraq but was ensuring Iraq's own sovereignty and preserving Iraq's territorial integrity as soon as possible.
Stating that Algeria had suffered much from terrorism, Belkhadem said that they would support every step aiming at fight against terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations (U.N.)
Maltese Foreign Minister Joseph Borg said that Turkey's decision to send soldiers to Iraq was an important decision and noted that Turkey could play an important role in settlement of stability in Iraq.
Borg recalled that Turkey was Iraq's neighbor and therefore, they could understand Turkey's concerns.
Asked how he evaluated the approach of formation of a Kurdish state in the north of Iraq, Borg said that normalization of Iraq and formation of an administration in which all groups would be represented were necessary at the moment.
Borg drew attention to preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity.
(BRC-Öª) 09.10.2003