PARIS - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul highlighted importance of holding a fair election in Iraq with participation of everyone.
Speaking at the 11th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum in French capital Paris, Gul said, ''because of actions ignoring traditions of Iraqi people, negative developments have been taking place in Iraq recently.''
Criticizing U.S. television channels' biased attitude against Iraq, Gul said, ''they consider Iraq a primitive society. In fact, Iraqis are prideful people.''
Noting that the new constitution would be prepared following the election, Gul highlighted importance of holding a fair election in Iraq with participation of everyone.
Recalling that foreign ministers of the neighbors of Iraq would convene in Egypt in the coming days, Gul said that Turkey was ready to assist Iraq.
Meanwhile, Gul told reporters following the meeting, ''at the Copenhagen Summit, the EU pledged to open the entry talks with Turkey without any delay after fulfillment of the political criteria. Now, we expect the EU to keep its promise.''
Gul noted, ''the EU Constitution and the entry talks between Turkey and the EU are two different issues. They should not be connected to each other,'' he added.
Gul is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Michel Barnier of France.
Gul will proceed to The Hague, the Netherlands, on Monday.
(UK-MS) 25.10.2004