ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Iraq should be aware of Turkey's support, stressing that everyone should extend efforts to end bloodthirsty massacre against Turkish citizens in Iraq.
Speaking at Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) group meeting on Tuesday, Gul said that there were still unsolved security problems in Iraq. He noted that they expected a government representing all Iraqi people and elected through democratic means to come to power in Iraq, as soon as possible.
Gul stated that Iraq suffered a lot, noting that they wished Iraqi people to gain stability and prosperity as soon as possible.
Turkey supported transitional process, timetable and interim government in Iraq, he said.
''We hope that elections will be held at the beginning of 2005 as foreseen, and the new government will come to power. Turkey is an important neighbor which puts into force the stipulations of international agreements and UN resolutions and which does not have any secret agenda concerning Iraq,'' he stated. -HOSTILE ATTITUDE AGAINST TURKS-
Noting that Iraq should be aware of Turkey's support, Gul recalled that some circles adopted a hostile attitude against Turkish citizens in this country. Stating that some Turkish citizens were murdered mercilessly in Iraq, Gul said, ''Iraq should attach great importance to Turkey's friendship. Everyone should extend efforts to end bloodthirsty massacre of Turkish citizens.''
Gul said that they were monitoring incidents in Tal Afar city of Iraq, noting, ''Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs are our relatives. When Kurds were going through difficulties, we protected them and extended every kind of support to them. Now, we have to support Turkmens who have been in a difficult position. This is not an intervention in internal affairs of Iraq.''
Stating that they informed the United States on Turkey's concerns over the issue, Gul said that they requested the United States to observe restraint on this matter. He also noted that the U.S. officials responded positively to their demand.
Gul added that they would continue to send humanitarian aid to Iraq.
(EÖ-ULG) 14.09.2004