NEW YORK (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that Iraq has become a training ground for terrorists since the beginning of war there.
In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, Erdogan reiterated Turkey's support to Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jafari's administration. ''Turkey has supported and will continue to support all measures for a democratic Iraq. Al-Jafari has assured us that he really wants democracy to succeed in Iraq. Al-Jafari requested assistance from Turkey. We are ready to support Al-Jafari's government in every way possible,'' commented Erdogan.
Erdogan told that Turkey provides food, water and electricity to Iraq. ''The Incirlik Air Base has been opened as a logistical base for U.S. troops.''
Erdogan told the New York Times that the past 40 years of Turkish-Syrian relations has been a difficult one. ''Turkey never approves authoritarian regimes that put heavy pressure on their people. There is a lot that Syria can learn from Turkey,'' noted Erdogan.
According to Erdogan, for the first time in history, Turkey and Syria agreed to share intelligence and clean the mine planted areas around their borders. ''If Syria continues to harbor terrorists, it will remain alone in the world.''
Erdogan remarked that one of Turkey's concerns in the region is Iraq's territorial integrity. ''Kirkuk must be a part of Iraq.''
Premier Erdogan expressed that Turkey has succeeded in bringing together Islam and democracy. ''As a secular Muslim state, Turkey is helping democratization efforts in the Middle East. Turkey has proven that Islam and democracy can live side by side,'' said Erdogan.
Erdogan pointed out that Turkey's EU membership will disprove Huntington's theory. ''We look at the EU as a club of common values and not just a Christian club. The world is a place of cooperation between civilizations and not a place where civilizations fight against each other,'' stated Erdogan.
2005-06-11