ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday, ''(Iraqi Kurds) should learn their lessons from the past.''.''
Holding a joints news conference together with Foreign Minister Abdelbaki Hermassi of Tunisia, Gul replied to a question about recent statement of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani who said, ''any power or state in the world cannot cause me to give up Kirkuk'', and said ''Turkey is not a country which is involved in battles of word with the others. Wrongful leaderships, imaginary projects, irrational actions and rhetoric slogans gave rise to serious troubles in the Middle East and especially in Iraq. Iraqi people have suffered most from it. Now, they should learn their lessons from the past.''
''In fact, all Iraqi people including Arabs, Kurds and Turks should concentrate their energy on creating an atmosphere of peace and stability. Any other actions will damage Iraqi people and their region,'' he said.
Gul stressed, ''Turkey recommends Iraqi people to forget this dark period and difficulties, and focus on the future. We are ready to assist Iraqi people to this end. In the past, many massacres and problems were prevented as a result of Turkey's initiatives. Now, Turkey wants Iraq to set up peaceful and friendly relations with its neighbors.''
''My advice to all politicians in Iraq is that no one can reach anywhere by rhetoric. After the elections the political process accelerated (in Iraq). Now, a new constitution will be prepared, and a new government will be formed. They should concentrate on future of their country,'' Gul added.