ANKARA, Feb 8 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, speaking about the letter which Iraqi head of state Saddam Hussein sent him, pointed out that, ''there is not any change in the attitude of Saddam Hussein.''
FM CEM SAYS THERE IS NO POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT ABOUT IRAQ'S ATTITUDE
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Friday about a question regarding the response of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's letter that ''we don't see a general positive development.''
Responding to questions of journalists after holding a joint news conference with Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed Abd Al-Rahman Shalgam, Cem said that Turkey did its mission as a neighbour of Iraq.
''I know that the U.N. Secretary General and the Iraqi administration have contacts,'' he said, adding that he hoped Iraq would start to implement the U.N. resolutions.
Upon another question, Cem said that Iraq can't have an attitude against Turkey, adding that the written correspondence with Iraq is carried out in a polite manner.
''Everybody is aware of the fact that Turkey launches efforts with good will and appreciates that. But every country pursues its own policy just like Turkey pursues its own,'' said Cem.
Cem said that he didn't use the words ''I don't see a positive development'' in respect of the letter, adding that it was not proper to talk about a letter which was presented to the prime minister.
Noting that Turkey will regard Iraq's accepting the U.N. weapon inspectors into its territory as a positive step, Cem said that Turkey has always told Iraq that if the relations between Iraq and the U.N. improve, Turkey will use its influence in various platforms like the EU and Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) for lifting of the economic sanctions on Iraq.
''In such a case, Turkey can have contacts with Jordan, Iran and Syria, the neighbours of Iraq on this issue, and I had clearly written this in my letter to Iraq,'' Cem said. When a journalist asked him if this proposal was still valid, Cem said ''yes.''
''We hope this issue to be solved in a peaceful manner,'' said Cem and recalled that every country determines its own policy, adding that all countries with which Turkey had contacts supported the policies of Turkey.
CEM SAYS HE GETS IMPRESSION THAT AN IMAGINARY SITUATION IS CREATED ABOUT IRAQ ISSUE
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Friday that there was not anything extraordinary in the letter sent by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and he had the impression that an imaginary situation had been created about Iraq issue.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Ecevit that lasted 1.5 hours, Cem said that the Prime Minister and he had discussed Afghanistan issue and the ''European Union-Organization of Islamic Conference Forum'' that would take place in Istanbul from February 12 to 13, adding, ''believe or not, we have not discussed Iraq issue today.''
Noting that he had informad Ecevit on the EU-OIC Forum and they had taken up the speeches during the panel discussions, Cem said that Turkey's policy toward Iraq was clear, adding, ''we don't need to discuss Iraq when we come together frequently like this.''
Stating that announcement of the letter was up to Ecevit, Cem said, ''however, there is nothing extraordinary and I want to mention that I don't consider it so important.''
Noting that he did not have the position to say something about the letter, Cem said, ''the Prime Minister stated that there was not anything new. And I agree with the Prime Minister. We are not in the atmosphere of discussing 'what will happen to Iraq and will there be a thing to happen soon'. I don't suppose that there was a need for this. Besides, Turkey's security has been provided in regard to every dimension. It is being followed closely. So we don't have any problem. It is our duty to bring the recovery in the Turkish economy to further levels as far as possible.''
Responding a question, Cem said, ''I do have the impression that an imaginary atmosphere was created about Iraq issue. We are not trying and expending efforts to take the Prime Minister's time by asking questions like 'what about the letter, what's inside' whenever we come together.''
Stressing that Turkey's policy toward Iraq was clear, Cem said, ''Mr. Ecevit has explained this for several times. Today, we have not discussed Iraq.''
When asked whether or not Saddam Hussein's letter had been conveyed to the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Cem said, ''ask this to the U.S. Ambassador. We don't have the habit of giving information to anybody about the letters we receive. Our policy about the matter is clear, we explained it and any change is out of question.''
Meanwhile, Ecevit's military chief advisor General Koksal Karabay attended the first 30 minutes of the meeting between Ecevit and Cem.
STYLE OF SADDAM'S LETTER TO ECEVIT IS NOT TOUGH
The style of the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's response letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is not tough, but it does not show any sign of change in the policies of the Iraqi administration.
Diplomatic sources said on Friday that Saddam Hussein noted in the three-page letter which started with the title of ''Mr. Prime Minister'' that he opened the doors of Baghdad to the U.N. inspectors before, but a problem broke out and he does not want to experience such an incident this again.
Saddam said in his letter that he would not permit the U.N. inspectors, stressing that the embargo imposed on Iraq had to be lifted.
The letter does not include parts which make Turkey uneasy about Incirlik base and Northern Watch, which are sensitive issues for Turkey.