ANKARA - Safety measures to ensure secure trade in the region following recent incidents in Iraq will be announced today, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday.
Gul replied questions of reporters about attacks towards employees of Turkish companies doing business in Iraq and hostage takings in this country.
Stating that Iraq was a sensitive region and has security problem, Gul said, ''however very big economic interests are in question.''
Gul said meetings took place in Foreign Ministry for days on the developments in Iraq, stressing that a written statement would be issued later today about safety measures.
About Murat Yuce, killed in Iraq by a group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Gul said, ''he was killed brutally. No information has been given about him beforehand. Everybody learned about the incident when he was killed bloodthirstily. We have been exerting efforts for those who were abducted earlier. As you know, we have rescued them. Now that there are several other citizens and we exert efforts to rescue them also.''
Gul said '' to make public detailed information about this issue could jeopardize the lives of other Turkish citizens in the region'', noting that, ''we exert efforts in a country which does not have a normal state of order, police or military force. We do not give too much information as we attach importance to the security of our citizens in the region.''
Gul also said they were trying to find the dead body of Yuce.
When Gul was reminded the criticisms that U.S. did not show necessary sensitivity to provide security, he said, ''it is true. We have been undertaking initiatives. Sometimes they are inefficient in providing security.''
(AY-ULG) 06.08.2004