Gul: Turkey Warned Companies Working In Afghanistan Of A Possible Armed Attack

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday that Turkey warned Turkish companies working in Afghanistan of a possible armed attack before Turkish engineer Tolga Erdem died in such an attack last Friday.
Gul, who attended a program live broadcast on private NTV channel, said that they had received some intelligence a few days before the attack and warned Turkish companies undertaking projects in Afghanistan.
Gul recalled that Turkish companies had 90 percent share in construction projects in Afghanistan, but said there were some security problems.
Foreign Minister Gul, ''we received some intelligence a few days ago and we hold a meeting with all the companies and warned them not to go to insecure places without having guards. But, we have seen that our warnings were not taken into consideration.''
(End)
(BRC-AÖ) 09.03.2004