Erdogan: Any Wrong Step To Be Taken In Kirkuk Will Affect Iraq's Future

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, ''any wrong step to be taken in Kirkuk will negatively affect peaceful atmosphere in Iraq. Therefore, the UN, the United States and coalition forces should not allow any wrongful structuring in the region. If they turn a blind eye to such an initiative and make a mistake, they will have to pay the price.''
     Prime Minister Erdogan left today for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum meetings.
     Upon a question about recent developments in Iraq, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, ''on numerous occasions, we expressed our concerns about the developments in Kirkuk. Other countries of the region also have similar concerns.''
    
     -DISASTER IN SOUTHERN ASIA-
    
     Referring to massive quake and tsunami disaster in southern Asia which claimed lives of more than 280 thousand people, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we will visit the affected countries in February to offer our condolences, and give a helping hand. I believe that our people will try to do their utmost to help people who were left desperate by the disaster.''
     (UK-ULG)
2005-01-27