ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received on Wednesday Iraqi interim Governing Council member and Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Chairman Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim.
Addressing journalists following the meeting, Al-Hakim said that they had held ''historic, important and productive'' meetings in Ankara.
Noting that there was a consensus of opinion between Turkey and them on the issues of Iraq's future and settlement of stability in the country, Al-Hakim said that besides political and economic issues, Turkey's participation in the political process in Iraq was also brought onto agenda during their meetings.
Pointing out that the railway line from Turkey to Iraq and to Iran was also taken up during their meetings, Al-Hakim said that the line would connect Europe to Central Asia, stressing that the line was of great importance to this end.
''We also discussed co-operation opportunities in various fields. We have decided to maintain talks between the sides. We aim at further developing our co-operation with commercial and non-governmental organizations,'' he said.
When asked whether or not Kurdish groups' desire for a federation was taken up at the meeting, Al-Hakim told reporters that democracy constituted the best solution for the Iraqi people.
Meanwhile, the Prime Ministry Press Center released a statement about the meeting between Prime Minister Erdogan and Al-Hakim.
The statement said, ''during the meeting, efforts to settle stability in Iraq and Turkey's contributions to these efforts were taken up. Also, Turkey's humanitarian and economic aid to Iraq was brought onto agenda.''
(UK-AY) 14.01.2004