ANKARA - U.S. President George Bush promised that his country would take concrete steps to eliminate the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL from the north of Iraq, sources said on Sunday.
Sources said that Erdogan and Bush expressed uneasiness about presence of the terrorist organization PKK in the north of Iraq.
The same sources noted that Bush pledged to take concrete steps about the matter.
Bush and Erdogan took up bilateral and regional issues and economic issues in their meeting.
Erdogan conveyed to Bush Turkey`s demand that the United States should take concrete steps about Cyprus issue.
Expressing Turkey`s expectation about starting scheduled and charter flights from the United States to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Erdogan also explained TRNC`s steps.
Erdogan expressed his view that the United States should not wait for the steps to be taken by the EU regarding Cyprus issue, and demanded that flights should start from the United States to TRNC before the tourism season ended.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan also thanked Bush for his support to Turkey`s European Union (EU) membership.
Erdogan explained Turkey`s former theses about Iraq and stressed importance attached to Iraq`s territorial integrity.
Stressing that Turkey would never accept domination of any ethnic group over the other in Iraq, Erdogan said that Turkmens had been ignored in Iraq so far.
Erdogan stated that Turkmens should have a right to speak in Iraq`s reconstruction and informed Bush that Turkey wanted to open a consulate general in Mosul.
Turkish Prime Minister expressed Turkey`s uneasiness about Kirkuk and stated that Kirkuk was a Turkmen city throughout history, adding that therefore, it could not be under domination of any ethnic group.
Erdogan expressed Turkey`s uneasiness about activities of the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL in the north of Iraq and asked the United States to take concrete steps to eliminate the terrorist organization from the region.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan said that the United States was effective in the current atmosphere in Iraq and pointed out that the United States had responsibilities about the matter.
Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to take steps for regional welfare in Afghanistan.
Noting that three Turks were kept as prisoners in Guantanamo, Erdogan asked the United States to bring those Turks before court if their trial was obligatory or free them as soon as possible.
Erdogan expressed his views about NATO`s new mission and discussed NATO`s activities outside its region.
Sources said that Israeli-Palestinian dispute was also discussed at the meeting and noted that Turkish side was ready to have active role in the peace process.
Bush agreed with Erdogan`s views and words about the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL and promised to take concrete steps.
U.S. President Bush said that fight against the terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL was within the scope of international terrorism, and noted that the United States would ensure intervention of the interim Iraqi administration in the matter.
Bush promised to do his best regarding the issue.
U.S. President Bush agreed with Turkey`s theses about Iraq`s reconstruction, and said that he could understand Turkey`s sensitivities about the region and therefore, did not ignore them.
Bush also expressed his view that there should not be any ethnic structuring in the region.
Concrete steps about Cyprus issue would be taken as soon as possible, Bush stated.
Bush said that Turkey had an important role in regional peace due to its regional influence and historical ties when commenting on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and noted that his country did not approve demolition of evacuated places in Israel.
U.S. President Bush said that the United States would continue to support Turkey`s EU membership.
Bush and Erdogan also discussed the 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan the United States committed to extend to Turkey but on a political condition.
Turkey said that it did not want to use the loan under current circumstances while both sides confirmed suspension of the loan.
Presidential elections to be held in the United States was also discussed in the meeting.
Erdogan wished success to Bush in the elections while Bush assured Erdogan that he would win.
(BRC-AÖ) 27.06.2004