Turkey: There Should Not Be A Postponement On June 30 When Sovereignty Would Be Transferred To Iraqis

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that there should not be a postponement on the day of June 30 when the sovereignty would be transferred to Iraqis.
Gul said, ''it should be de facto not imaginary handing over. Interim Iraqi government should not be an extension of Iraqi governing council.''
Parliamentary General Assembly discussed motions submitted by Taner Yildiz, a parliamentarian of Justice and Development Party (AK Party), and Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentarians regarding abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Turkey's Iraq policy and recent developments in Palestine.
Gul, who spoke on behalf of the Turkish government, stated that concerns and hopelessness increased in the region, stating that negative political and military developments affected economy and commercial developments and cooperation, dialogue process and social reforms. Gul said efforts were needed to provide peace and stability in the region.
Gul said Iraq experienced the most difficult period after end of war, stating that sufferings of Iraqi people had not yet ended, and that negative political and economic effects of the ongoing crisis still continued.
Gul said formation of order and security atmosphere was one of the fundamental conditions for Iraq to progress toward a free, democratic and prosperous future. Gul said this atmosphere could not be provided yet.
Gul said coalition forces had been facing resistance in some regions, which prevented them from focusing on other problems.
Gul said attacks on coalition forces as well as Iraqi civilians, political personalities, foreign representations and international institutions continued after end of war. Gul said coalition forces had to clash in two different fronts and that they used extreme force from time to time. He said civilian people and holy places suffered damage in clashes.
Recalling that Spain and some other countries, which extended support to coalition decided to retrieve its forces from Iraq, Gul said, ''at a period when there are difficulties in settlement of security and stability, it was revealed that some soldiers of the coalition forces imposed inhumane treatment and torture on prisoners in a prison in Iraq. Those incidents contradict the international laws and universal values and can not be forgotten. Both the Iraqi people and the society including our people are in indignation. Our government condemned this incident. We particularly feel concern that reaction of the people of the region would have long term negative impacts. The U.S. administration promised to find those who were responsible and to punish them.''
Gul said the only way out for breaking the vicious circle was to advance the political process, and noted that, ''this process can not be conducted on a basis that deepens the differences. Thus, all sections should come together with their representation in temporary structures. The process should be settled on a basis that targets formation of national harmonization. Role of the United Nations should be the most important thing at this point. Turkey also attributes great importance to this role of the United Nations. We expect the United Nations to undertake a more effective role in Iraq in the coming period.''
Gul said political transition period timetable in Iraq was determined by Interim Administrative Law passed on March 8, noting that the first stage would start with abolishment of coalition administration and Iraqi Governing Council on June 30 and transfer of sovereignty to the Interim Iraqi government that would be newly set up.
He said the second stage would start with formation of Iraqi transition government as a result of national parliament elections that would take place on January 31, 2005 the latest. Gul said this stage would end on December 31, 2005 with the formation of the new government under a constitution which the elected parliament will prepare.
Gul said interim administrative law would be in effect till the end of transition process beginning on June 30, and noted that, ''as June 30 approaches, political process in Iraq enters a critical stage and two important issues emerge. One of them is about the structure of the interim government which will take over sovereignty as of June 1, and the second one is about the preparations regarding the general elections planned to be made on January 31, 2005 the latest. UN decision and recommendations were requested on both issues.''
Gul said the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy proposed formation of technocrats government instead of Iraqi Governing Council. Members of this are envisaged to be promoted to Iraqi people and the United Nations till the end of May. Also recommendations were made for formation of an international conference which would act as consultant to interim government.
Gul said, ''Turkey uses all facilities of diplomacy aiming to form a security and stability belt in its region,'' and noted that Turkey attributed a special importance to neighboring Iraq in this sense.''
Stating that coalition administration and Iraqi people have the main responsibility at this critical stage Iraq was in, Gul said, ''the coalition should be careful about not repeating some mistakes it had made in the past. All the sections forming Iraq should be included in the political process. Ways should be opened for representation of sovereignty and its transfer to legal administration structures.''
Gul said it should be remembered that future of Iraq would be determined by people of Iraq.
Foreign Minister Gul said, ''different sections forming Iraqi society should leave aside ethnical and religious interests. They will only be able to produce solution to problems of Iraq in case they reach a social compromise for their joint future. I call on all the political party leaders to leave aside their interests.'' Pointing out that countries neighboring Iraq initiative, which was started with the efforts of the government, recorded significant progress, Gul said, ''this process has formed a solid acquisition for Iraq from now on. International community and United Nations appreciated importance of this initiative. The UN Secretary General formed a consultative committee including countries neighboring Iraq being inspired by this initiative.''

''VEHBI DINCERLER WILL COORDINATE PALESTINE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COOPERATION MISSION''
Gul said that initiatives for refreshment of peace process included measures for urgent recovery of heavy economic and social difficulties of Palestinian people. He recalled that Turkey had also announced a comprehensive economic and social action plan.
Noting that activities between institutions had started regarding this issue, Gul said that former minister Vehbi Dincerler was designated to undertake the mission of ''Palestine Economic and Social Cooperation Coordination''.
Stressing that the developments which had been experienced until now showed that the problem could not be solved only with the efforts of Palestine and Israel, Gul said that international community should also undertake responsibility. Noting that the efforts should not be limited only with condemnations, Gul said that relavant states should convene and take necessary steps, adding that the United Nations had many responsibilities to take for the issue.
Gul said that Turkey had provided assistance worth of nearly seven million U.S. dollars to Palestine in various fields since 1996, adding that aids had been sent under the umbrella of the United Nations as well.
Noting that Turkey was determined to carry on its activities in both countries, Gul said that he hoped that both Palestine and Israel would have more stability and peace in coming months.
(GC-MS) 25.05.2004