Turkey: New Iraqi Interim Government Faces Important Duties

ANKARA - The Iraqi interim government unveiled on Tuesday would undertake important duties, Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan told a weekly press conference that the Iraqi interim government would work to ensure peace, stability and security in the country, better living conditions of Iraqi people. It will also ensure a democratic political transition, hold general elections, and enable a new Iraqi government to take the office, he added.
Tan expressed Turkey's wish that the interim government would meet expectations of Iraqi people and international community when fulfilling its responsibilities.
An Iraqi government in which all the Iraqi people could be equally represented could be elected democratically, Tan stated.
Tan wished that the interim government should keep election of such an Iraqi government in mind when fulfilling its duties.
Iyad Allawi became the new Iraqi Prime Minister and Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, the head of the Iraqi Governing Council, was named the president of the interim government.
The interim government will take power from the U.S.-led coalition on June 30.
(BRC-AÖ) 02.06.2004