GAZIANTEP - Turkish drivers should not go to Iraq until end of chaos or the Turkish army should assure the security, said Reslan Tabur, the chairman of Association of Lorry and Bus Drivers in Gaziantep. In a statement released on Tuesday after a Turkish hostage was shot dead in Iraq a day earlier, Tabur said they had always considered Iraqis as their sisters and brothers but the Iraqis did not have the same approach towards Turks.
Defending that Turkish drivers did not earn too much money transporting goods to Iraq and moreover they risked their lives, Tabur said that Turkish drivers paid the price with their lives although they were not guilty. ''We call on all Turkish drivers not to go to Iraq,'' he added.
Stressing that Turkish drivers should go to Iraq under the protection of the Turkish Armed Forces, Tabur said, ''as the United States is involved in this job, it has the responsibility to make trade secure. A safe and secure zone controlled by the Turkish army should be established in an area close to the border to help Turkish drivers unload their cargo in that area. And Americans should take those goods from that area and distribute them.''
UND'S DECISION ON ''STOPPING FERRYING U.S. CARGO TO IRAQ'' -UND EXECUTIVE BOARD PRESIDENT SOYSAL SAYS DECISION ONLY BINDS THEM
International Transporters' Association's (UND) Executive Board President Cahit Soysal said on Tuesday that decision of UND to ''stop ferrying U.S. cargo to Iraq'' only bind their members.
Replying to questions of A.A correspondent, Soysal said, ''we have security concerns. We will return to our daily routine when security is restored.''
Soysal said nearly 50-60 vehicles have been going to Iraq every month, stating that the decision was not related to commercial goods but covers only the transportation of goods belonging to U.S. troops in Iraq.
Soysal said U.S. goods constitute just 2-3 percent of total transportation.
Soysal said the transportation was not only made via Turkey but also via Jordan, Syria, and Basra.
(AY-ULG) 03.08.2004