Tuzmen Meets With Iraqi Interim Governing Council Current President Jalal Talabani

ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen met on Wednesday with Jalal Talabani, the Current President of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council.
The delegation headed by Talabani is comprised of 10 members of the Iraqi Interim Governing Council, six ministers, Central Bank Deputy Governor and some high-level bureaucrats of Iraq.
After tete-a-tete meeting of Tuzmen and Talabani, meeting between delegations of two countries started.
Addressing opening remarks of this meeting, Tuzmen said that their aim was to further improve commercial and political relations between two countries in order to be beneficial for the two countries, the region and the world.
Tuzmen noted that Turkey exerted utmost efforts to further improve trade with Iraq.
Improvement of commercial relations enabled easier political relations, Tuzmen stated.
Tuzmen added, ''we will put forth all sides of commercial and political relations between two countries in this meeting, list the problems and try to overcome these problems. Because, it is difficult to make sustainable industry and trade in the atmosphere of chaos in Iraq. Our aim is to further improve commercial and industrial relations between two countries in order to beneficial to the two countries, the region and the world.''
Talabani said that their aim was to establish good relations with Turkey in every field particularly economy, culture and industry.
Turkey was a very important country which was neighbor of Iraq and which had a long relation with Iraq that was rooted in history, Talabani emphasized.
Talabani expressed belief that two countries had common interests and said that Iraq was a rich country in the Middle East in regard to population and natural resources.
Stating that there were many fields of cooperation, Talabani said that money used for weapons would be used for the welfare of their country after regime was founded through a democratic means.
In that respect, Turkey could be very helpful to them, Talabani pointed out.
Noting that they had hoped much from their working visit, Talabani said that there were important personalities in their delegation.
Expressing hope to further improve relations between Turkey and new Iraq, Talabani said that they had come to Turkey to lay groundwork of that policy.
Tuzmen, who wanted to speak after the words of Talabani, said that Turkey had exerted every assistance and service to Iraqi people before and after the war.
''We want to serve whole Iraqi people after the war,'' Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen stated that current atmosphere of ''chaos'' in the region made everything difficult and prevented sound course of trade and investments.
''We will do our best to increase business opportunities of our exporters, lorry drivers and industrialists,'' Tuzmen said.
Talabani said that Turkey had extended big assistance to Iraqi people for 14 years and accepted tens of thousands of refugees.
Recalling that Turkey opened Incirlik Base and ensured protection for them, Talabani said that in fact, there was not any chaos and problems in a big part of Iraq.
Talabani said that the current problem was faced in a narrow triangle from the west of Baghdad to Felluce.
Noting that there were 88 sites in Iraq, Talabani said that there was chaos only in eight of them.
Turkish people found themselves secure in north of Iraq, Talabani said.
Talabani stated that they would be in security even if they went to the north.
If Turkish delegations visited Iraq, they would see how they were respected and trusted, Talabani pointed out.
Talabani said that they were guaranteeing security of businessmen, drivers and investors.
Noting that some circles who did not want democracy and freedom in Iraq continued to make provocations, Talabani said that such circles were causing such rumors.
Talabani said that they liked Turkey's Ambassador to Iraq Osman Koruturk very much and wanted Koruturk to come to Iraq to see the security in that region.
WE DISCUSSED DIFFICULTIES FROM ENERGY TO INFRASTRUCTURE
Following the meeting, Talabani told reporters that they would take up cooperation opportunities in every field with Turkey during his visit.
Sources said that two Iraqi ministers and Central Bank deputy governor would meet with Turkish companies working in Iraq in the afternoon.
Some circles who assessed Talabani's visit to Turkey said that Iraq was a very important neighbor of Turkey and stated that relations between the two countries should be improved.
The same circles said that the delegation would continue to hold meetings especially on economy and added that there was not any change in Turkey's policy on Iraq.
TUZMEN ASKS IRAQ TO PREVENT NORTH OF IRAQ ORIENTED TERRORIST ATTACKS AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS FROM TAKING SHELTER IN REGION
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who is acting as the Foreign Minister since Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is paying a visit to Sweden, asked on Wednesday Iraq to prevent north of Iraq oriented terrorist attacks and terrorist organizations from taking shelter in that region.
Sources told A.A correspondent that Tuzmen stated in the meeting that Iraq and Turkey were friends and they wanted to continue commercial and political relations within that framework.
The sources quoted Tuzmen as saying that exports from Turkey to Iraq would reach 3-4 billion U.S. dollars in case there was not any war and as stressing importance of compensation of the loss in trade.
Tuzmen noted that Turkish companies wanted to undertake infrastructural and other investments in Iraq.
Recalling that Turkey was experienced in telecommunication and investments in many regional countries were made by Turkish companies, Tuzmen expressed sorrow that telecommunication network project in Iraq was not given to Turkish companies.
Tuzmen demanded that Turkish companies should be included in the list of prior contracts approved by the United Nations (U.N.) in case authority within the scope of oil for food programme was transferred to the Interim Governing Council.
Sources said that Tuzmen pointed to the necessity of efficient use of Nusaybin-Mosul railway and stressed importance of opening of second border gate in Ovakoy-Mosul line and improvement of border trade.
Tuzmen asked Iraq not to take money from Turkish drivers in the north of Iraq and said that Turkey was ready to help Iraq in repair of oil pipelines and banking sector.
Talabani said during the meeting that there was democracy in Iraq, discrimination of religion and race was removed and Turkmens could write their names freely in everywhere.
Noting that they were representing majority of Iraq, Talabani said that he was a politician and added that commercial and other cooperation issues would be discussed with ministers and officials in the delegation.
Talabani approaches positively in principle to the opening of a second border gate with Iraq and increasing of border trade.
Noting that they knew the experience of Turkish firms in construction sector, Talabani said that meetings with the delegation that accompanied him about investments and Turkish banks' functioning in Iraq would be beneficial. He added that he thought that giving authority regarding imports to governing council would not be problem for Turkish firms.
The meeting of Turkish-Iraqi Business Council under the auspices of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) will be held at Hilton Hotel tomorrow.
TUZMEN HOSTS MEAL IN HONOR OF TALABANI
Tuzmen hosted an evening meal during holy month of Ramadan in honor Talabani and accompanying delegation on Wednesday.
The meal which was closed to press lasted nearly one and a half hours at Ankara Palace.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Turkish Ambassador in Baghdad Osman Paksut also attended the meal.
Meanwhile, a group of people who convened in front of Ankara Palace, chanted slogans against Talabani. The group was removed away prior to departure of Talabani.
Tight security measures were taken during meal.

(BRC-GC-EÖ-AY) 19.11.2003