Turkish P.M. Says Iraq Belongs To All Iraqi People

NEW DELHI - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early on Sunday that Iraq belonged to all Iraqi people.
Answering questions of reporters on his way from Turkey to tsunami-stricken Southeast Asian countries, Erdogan said that his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was held in a very positive atmosphere.
Erdogan and Rice took up last Sunday's Iraqi parliamentary elections, initiatives to be done after these elections, preparation of new Iraqi constitution, sensitivities of Turkey and the United States, terrorism, fight against terrorist organization PKK, Kirkuk, Cyprus and Afghanistan in their meeting. Also, Erdogan and Rice stressed that strategic cooperation between Turkey and the United States should be enhanced, and they also discussed possible contribution to regional peace.
Stressing importance of bilateral relations, Erdogan and Rice also debated recent developments in north of Iraq.
Rice mentioned Kirkuk as an Iraqi city, while Erdogan stressed Iraq's territorial integrity, and said, ''none of ethnic groups or sects should have a hegemony on the other. Iraq belongs to all Iraqi people.''
Meanwhile, Erdogan arrived in tsunami-stricken Indonesia, the first leg of his tour to South Asia, around 6.35 a.m. Turkish local time.