ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that PKK was a racist structuring.
Sources said that Erdogan received the NATO Parliamentary Delegation headed by Claude Lellouche.
In the meeting, Erdogan stated that PKK was a racist structuring and added, ``there is not any culture laying the ground for such a racist atmosphere. Kurds and Turks have been intermingled.``
Referring to NATO`s role in Afghanistan, Erdogan said that NATO`s decisions regarding Iraq and Afghanistan were important for Turkey, a country neighbor to Iraq.
-ISAF`S COMMAND-
Erdogan went on saying, ``because, Iraq is Turkey`s neighbor. And, Afghanistan has importance for Turkey since Ataturk`s rule. What we should do now is to put into force the decisions adopted at NATO Istanbul Summit in order to assure peace, stability and prosperity in these two countries. Interruption of our efforts in Afghanistan, and eruption of terrorism in this country again will affect not only Central Asian and surrounding countries, with which we have some close historical relations, but also Euro-Atlantic region. Therefore, Turkey has decided to take over ISAF`s command, which it undertook in 2002, again in February 2005. We believe that this mission, we will undertake in Afghanistan shortly after the presidential elections are held, will not only strengthen peace and stability in this region but also contribute to creation of a secure atmosphere.``
-NONE OF THE COUNTRIES CAN ACHIEVE IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM ON ITS OWN-
Referring to terrorism, Erdogan said, ``we have been saying since September 11 that a joint international platform should be formed to counter terrorism. But, this platform hasn`t been formed yet. It is not possible for any country to achieve in fight against terrorism on its own.``
-POVERTY IS MAIN CAUSE OF TERRORISM-
When Claude Lellouche asked what should be done to prevent terrorism, Erdogan said, ``we shouldn`t ignore causes and results of terrorism. We should deal with poverty which is the main cause of terrorism, ideological obsessions and religious reasons. Poverty is the main cause of terrorism. We should share our intelligence and information uninterruptedly.``
When Polish member Longin Pastusiak of the delegation asked ``election of a moderate politician as the Diyarbakir mayor and dissolution of PKK meant that Kurdish movement shifted from radicalism to moderateness``, Erdogan said, ``PKK is a racist structuring. There is not any culture laying the ground for such a racist atmosphere. Kurds and Turks have been intermingled.``
Noting that PKK dissolved due to conflict of interests and this occurred after security was assured in the region, Erdogan said that his party won the local elections in four important cities of the region.
Asked by the Slovakian member Jozep Manas of the delegation if the Iraqi interim administration could succeed in the elections, Erdogan said that census should firstly be held in Iraq, and expressed his concerns about this matter.
Erdogan said, ``as the prime minister of a country neighbor to Iraq, I am not so optimistic, but we hope they can succeed.``
Asked by the Italian member Gianni Nieddu of the delegation about how developments in Iraq would affect surrounding countries, especially Syria and Iran, Erdogan said, ``both countries are uneasy about the incidents in Iraq. I got the impression during my meetings with leaders of these two countries that they will join steps to be taken by international community.
When Claude Lellouche asked if nuclear Iran raised his concerns, Erdogan said, ``as long as Iran carries out its studies for peaceful purposes and in cooperation with the World Energy Agency, there is no need to worry.``
On the other hand, Claude Lellouche said that they were impressed with two-year initiatives of the Turkish government, and showed fight against inflation, changes to the National Security Council and broadcasting in different languages and dialects as an example.
Lellouche conveyed French President Jacques Chirac message that he was supporting Turkey`s European Union (EU) bid during the meeting.
(BRC) 07.09.2004