Erdogan: We Underlined Importance Of Protection Of Territorial Integrity Of Iraq

ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they underlined the importance of protection of territorial integrity of Iraq in the luncheon hosted by U.S President George W. Bush.
Erdogan returned from the United States to Turkey on Sunday and held a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.
Stating that they discussed several political and regional issues including Cyprus and Iraq in the luncheon which was hosted by U.S. President Bush, Erdogan said that they also had opportunity to listen to the United States' views and approaches on extended Middle East vision. He added that they also expressed Turkey's approach on this issue.
''We underlined the importance of protection of territorial integrity of Iraq. The two countries also confirmed their determination on fight against terrorism,'' he said and noted that they saw once again that two countries' views on continuation of cooperation and on several issues coincided with each other.
Erdogan said that they invited Bush who would come to Istanbul for NATO summit to Ankara to have bilateral meeting.
(EÖ-AÖ) 01.02.2004