ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said about allegations saying that Turkey and Iran would take advantage of recent attacks in northern Iraq, ''Turkey is not a country pursuing illegal desires.''
Responding questions of journalists about the allegation, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''these are very heinous claims. We do not consider it right to assess such allegations. Turkey is not a country pursuing such illegal desires. Turkey's past, today and future have always been based on justice and peace. Turkey has never taken part in such activities throughout its history.''
KDP AND PUK RELEASE A JOINT STATEMENT
The Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) have denied allegations saying that they had held Turkey responsible for Sunday's twin suicide attacks in Irbil city of Iraq.
Releasing a joint written statement on Tuesday, the KDP and the PUK referred to some news stories claiming that they had held Turkey responsible for recent attacks in Irbil.
''These news stories are totally baseless. On the contrary to these allegations, PUK leader Jalal Talabani and KDP leader Massoud Barzani expressed their satisfaction over Turkey's sincere interest and support. Neither Talabani nor Barzani or any other Kurdish officials held Turkey responsible for attacks,'' the statement noted.
Meanwhile, sources said that Talabani responded message of condolence of Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
He thanked Gul for his sincere feelings.
''Turkish people's commiserating with us had mollified our grief,'' he said and thanked for proposal of Foreign Minister Gul who said that Turkey could undertake medical treatment of the injured people in the attacks.
(AA) 03.02.2004