KAYSERI - Iraq is the biggest potential threat in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday after a Turkish hostage was shot dead in Iraq.
Speaking to reporters in the Governor`s Office in Kayseri province, Gul said that their efforts were under way for release of Turkish hostages in Iraq.
Noting that he could not give the number of Turkish hostages in Iraq, Gul said, ``unfortunately, Iraq is problematic. Many countries have faced problems in Iraq. So far we have not suffered damage and felt pain, but we unfortunately lost one of our citizens today. We have been continuously exerting intense efforts. I hope that we would rescue remaining Turkish hostages.``
Stressing that there was a serious security problem in Iraq, Gul said, ``nobody can predict what is going to happen in Iraq. As a neighboring country, Turkey has so far attributed great importance to rapid settlement of stability and peace in Iraq. However, as you see today, there is a serious security problem there. Almost one hundred Iraqis die each day. Our relations will remain as relations with a neighboring country.``
Early the same day, Islamist Web sites showed a videotape of the killing of Murat Yuce, a Turkish hostage, in Iraq by a group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
UND`S DECISION ON ``STOPPING FERRYING U.S. CARGO TO IRAQ``
RODER: ``WE WON`T ABIDE BY THIS DECISION``
ANKARA - International Transporters` Association`s (UND) decision on ``stopping ferrying U.S. cargo to Iraq`` aroused indignation among transporters, Ro-Ro Ships Operators` and Combined Transporters` Association (RODER) Chairman Saffet Ulusoy said on Monday.
``We will not abide by this decision,`` Ulusoy told the A.A correspondent.
``I was shocked when I heard about the decision of the UND because it does not have a right and authority to take such a decision. Only the government takes such a decision. It is not the business of associations. We will not abide by this decision, of course. I suppose that none of our transporter friends would also not abide by it,`` he said.
``This decision is very important for the Turkish transportation sector. We have to be cautious because there are nearly fifty thousand lorries and drivers. I will discuss it with Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim and bureaucrats,`` he added.
Meanwhile, Turkish Exporters` Assembly (TIM) Chairman Oguz Satici said that it was an early decision.
``Neither Turkish exporters nor Turkish transporters have the luxury of saying, `I don`t play here`. There are many risks in the region. Everybody is aware that people do not work on normal conditions in Iraq. We are very sad because of killing of one Turkish lorry driver,`` he said.
Meanwhile, Turkish-Iraqi Business Council Chairman Ercument Aksoy said that he did not think UND`s decision would negatively affect trade with Iraq.
Speaking to the A.A, Aksoy said, ``I support UND`s decision. Because people`s safety is important than everything.``
(MS-AÖ) 02.08.2004