AMMAN - Iraqi people should join their forces, leaving aside their ethnic and sectarian thoughts, Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday.
Parliament speakers of neighbor countries to Iraq met in Jordanian capital Amman.
Speaking in the meeting, Arinc said that Iraq`s neighbors were aware that they had a special responsibility to help Iraq overcome its problems.
Arinc noted that foreign ministers of countries neighbor to Iraq met in Istanbul, Turkey for the first time upon Turkey`s initiative to express their common views about Iraq.
That process was very beneficial, Arinc stated.
Pointing out that the meeting of parliament speakers of countries neighbor to Iraq was also important, Arinc said that participation of United Nations (UN) Secretary General, and representatives of Arab Parliamentary Union and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) showed commitment of the international community to enable a stable, prosperous and sovereign Iraq, the territorial integrity and national unity of which had been preserved.
Arinc stated that today`s meeting had once more showed that Iraq`s neighbors were beside their Iraqi brothers in eliminating problems of that country.
Turkey`s vision towards Iraq had also been shared by the international community, Arinc pointed out.
Arinc said that re-settlement of Iraq`s sovereignty and independence, preservation of Iraq`s unity and territorial integrity, election of a political system desired by Iraqi people, self-determination of Iraqi people, control of Iraq`s natural resources by all Iraqi people were the basic principles of Turkey`s vision.
Arinc noted that there was high tension and deep concerns in Iraq due to increasing clashes in recent weeks.
The situation in Iraqi prisons was very grave for human rights and humanity pride, which were common virtues of humanity, Arinc pointed out.
Arinc said, ``democracy and freedom should be explained to one nation through methods in line with humanity pride and on condition that efforts to explain these principles to a nation don`t contradict fundamental human rights. I think that these incidents which hurt pride and honor of Iraqi people also harm common values of all humanity. Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Inspection Commission has harshly condemned these incidents in Iraqi prisons. I think that these incidents have stemmed from personal mistakes and will not reoccur. Punishment of those who are responsible may prevent recurrence of similar incidents even though it won`t ease pains of the injured parties. Nobody has the right to hurt pride of any person whatever his position is. Reactions all over the world to this crime of humanity are pleasing for rule of law.``
Pointing out that political transition process continued in Iraq, Arinc said that there was no other region that making that process ``sustainable and valid.``
Arinc drew attention that there was a direct link between settlement of security and sovereignty in Iraq and formation of a legitimate political system as stated by UN Secretary General`s Special Envoy to Iraq.
``A valid Iraqi government should be formed as soon as possible. Because, non-existence of a sovereign state in Iraq constitutes the most important part of the problem in Iraq,`` Arinc said.
Arinc noted that sovereignty would be handed over to the Iraqi people in June and thus, a new critical stage would start.
All Iraqi people should be represented in all political structures as well as the interim government in order to ensure legitimacy of the political transition process, Arinc said.
Arinc stressed that if representation of all Iraq people in political structures was ensured, Iraqi people would feel themselves responsible to protect their own future.
``Therefore, the view that a national conference having the right to represent till January 2005 should convene in addition to the interim government deserves appreciation,`` Arinc said.
Arinc pointed out that the UN was the best organ that could undertake a key role in transfer of sovereignty and development of democratic structures in Iraq.
``Recent contributions of the UN had a positive dynamism on the political process. We support Mr. Brahimi`s views presented to the UN Security Council,`` Arinc said.
Arinc stated that Iraqi people would continue to give a challenging examination on the road to determine their own political future after their sovereignty was handed over on June 30.
What the Iraqis would need the most in that long and difficult process was to reach a compromise among themselves, Arinc said.
Arinc added, ``our Iraqi brothers may continue to trust us, but they should not forget that they will find their own solutions to Iraq`s problems in the end. I call on Iraqi people to join their forces, leaving aside their ethnic and sectarian thoughts.``
Arinc left Turkey for Jordan on Monday to attend the meeting. The meeting will last for two days.
(BRC-AÖ) 12.05.2004