ANKARA - Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) high-level official Berham Salih came to Ankara on Monday to hold a series of meetings.
Responding questions of journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport after his arrival, Salih said that he came to Turkey to convey gratification of the government to Turkey for its assistance to treat people, who were injured in the attacks in Irbil, and to attend regular meetings with Turkish government over developments in Iraq.
Highlighting importance of Iraq's holding consultations with neighboring countries, especially with Turkey, Salih reminded that some of those, who were injured in the twin suicide attacks in Irbil had been receiving medical treatment in Turkish hospitals.
''I came to Turkey in order to convey gratification of both PUK leader Jalal Talabani and our people to Turkey for its messages of condolence and its proposal to treat the injured people in hospitals following the attacks,'' he said.
Expressing his satisfaction of the injured people's receiving medical treatment in Turkish hospitals, Salih said that they appreciated Turkish government's and people's solidarity with them.
When asked whether or not he had taken a message from Washington D.C. to Turkey, Salih said everyone had accepted that Iraqi people should take the decisions about future of their countries.
Recalling that he had held talks in Washington D.C., London and Madrid, Salih said that all problems about Iraq's transition period were taken up in detail during his visits.
Salih will visit the injured, who has been receiving medical treatment at Ankara's Trafik Hospital.
(UK-AÖ) 09.02.2004