ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul gave some warnings on terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL and Kirkuk to Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, sources said on Tuesday.
Diplomatic sources quoted Gul as telling to Talabani, ''you should not return to policies during Saddam period in Kirkuk. You should not change demographic structure and not bring new groups to the city. You should not provoke tension between ethnic groups and not arouse indignation. Otherwise, they will yield unfavorable results.''
Gul underlined Turkey's deep sensitivity on terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL in his meeting with Talabani and asked him not to tolerate this terrorist organization.
Sources said that Gul asked Talabani to take action against terrorists in his region. Sources said that Gul gave Talabani the message that, ''if you are responsible for administration of your region, you should take prompt action.''
Sources quoted Gul as saying that Kurds should not act unilaterally on the issue of federation in Iraq and stated that will of everyone should be respected. Noting that administrative structure should be approved by whole country, Foreign Minister Gul said Turkey would not interfere provided that the administrative structure was approved in accordance with the constitution on which everyone reached consensus. He added that rise of independence could not be accepted.
Sources stated that Gul conveyed all issues on which Turkey had sensitivity, especially Iraq and Kirkuk, to Talabani in the meeting.
Talabani underlined the importance of territorial integrity of Iraq. Stating that territorial integrity of Iraq was also to their interest, Talabani said that they did not pursue a separatist policy.
Sources quoted Talabani as saying that ''what PKK/KONGRA-GEL did was a betrayal against Kurdish case.''
Stating that if there was any action from terrorist organization toward Turkey, they would oppose it, Talabani said that terrorist organization was divided into many parts in itself and entered a process of disintegration. He said that the number of members of the organization who did not want violence was more than the number of members who wanted it.
Talabani said that they did not make any contacts with terrorist organization not to disturb Turkey and added that they refused Osman Ocalan's demand for meeting for this reason.
Sources said that Talabani was told that the issue of Kurds who returned to Kirkuk was being followed closely. Sources noted that Talabani was asked what was their criterion of the issue. Talabani said that those who returned to the city should be ''genuine native of Kirkuk'', adding that they looked at registration logs to determine it.
Sources stated that Talabani asked Turkey to give them air corridor for airport whose construction was about to be completed in Sulaymaniyah, and approached positively to flights of some Turkish companies.
Sources said that there was need to examine some conditions on airport to respond in the affirmative to this demand.
Noting that Talabani was told in the meeting that Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani could come to Turkey, sources stated that if Barzani was to come to Turkey, he could have meetings like Talabani. Sources added that KDP leader would probably visit Turkey.
Sources also said that both Talabani and Barzani defended territorial integrity of Iraq.
(EÖ-AÖ) 22.06.2004