ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul considered on Wednesday attitude and behaviors towards Turks in Iraq a big mistake.
Following their meeting, Gul and Albanian Foreign Minister Kastriot Islami held a joint press conference.
Gul said that Turkey regretted and felt deep sorrow over abduction of Turks in Iraq.
Turkey attached great importance to Iraq's stability, extended humanitarian aid, and was among the countries which contributed the most to meet the needs of Iraqi people, Gul noted.
Gul said, ''therefore, we consider these behaviors against Turks a big mistake.''
Four Turks were currently kept hostage in Iraq while a few of them were released, Gul stated.
Gul said that Turkey was doing everything for release of the other hostages.
Turkey was very careful about this issue and attached the greatest importance to life security of its citizens, Gul stressed.
Gul said, ''therefore, we continue our efforts very carefully. Our government attaches great importance to this issue. I am sure that Iraqi people are also very uneasy about these behaviors against Turkish citizens.''
Two administrators of Serka Construction Company Adnan Azizoglu and Tarkan Arikoglu, and their Turkmen driver Fethi Kiyas were kidnapped on their way from Fallujah to Mosul on Tuesday morning. Later they were all released.
Bulent Yanik, a truck driver, and an Egyptian driver, who were carrying supplies to Iraq, had been kidnapped last week.
(BRC-AY) 09.06.2004