Powell Tells Gul His Words Misunderstood

ANKARA - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, saying that his words in an interview with German ZDF television channel describing Turkey as an ''Islamic republic'' were misunderstood.
Sources said on Wednesday that Powell called Gul on the phone, informing him on developments in Iraq.
The sides briefly discussed the latest point in the Cyprus issue while Powell clarified his words about Turkey on ZDF television channel, sources said.
Referring to meeting of U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman with Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Powell said that his words were misunderstood as it was conveyed to Ziyal by Edelman, sources said.
Sources added that Powell said that his words did not refer to Turkey's political system and secular structure but he only wanted to mention that Turkey was a country where majority of people was Muslim.
(MS) 07.04.2004