ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said on Friday that Turkey made important contributions to Iraq's accepting the U.N. resolutions without condition, stressing that, ''we are very pleased over this decision.''
Gurel returned to Turkey from the United States where he participated in the U.N. General Assembly meeting.
Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Gurel briefed about his contacts in the United States, stressing that he had the opportunity to meeting with the high ranking U.S. officials and the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) foreign ministers.
When asked ''important developments were recorded recently regarding U.S. intervention in the U.S. What is the position of Turkey currently as a result of the impressions in the United States,'' Gurel said, ''from the very beginning we said Iraq should abide by the U.N. resolutions unconditionally. We have stated this also during our talks with the Iraqi side. Thus, we had important contributions in Iraq's taking the decision to abide by the U.N. resolutions without any condition.''
Gurel said the U.S. President George Bush, while addressing the U.N. General Assembly, kept the door open to provide time and distance for particularly a political field, stressing that, ''we think the Iraqi administration evaluated this opportunity.''
Responding to a question which said, ''what would be the attitude of Turkey if the United States launches an operation without getting the support of the international community,'' Gurel said, ''we have stressed that there should be legality and consensus behind those steps. There is no change in our views.''
Recalling that Iraq decided to resume the U.N. inspectors, Gurel said, ''the inspectors should be facilitated to carry out necessary examinations without being exposed to any restriction.''
When asked what was the suggestion of the U.S. administration regarding Cyprus, Gurel said, ''the United States can have objective approaches to an issue like Cyprus, which they considered as important both for themselves and the region. We are pleased over this attitude of the United States so far. The United States continue to show that it can approach Cyprus issue more objectively when compared with others.''
Responding to a question which said, ''what is the point of view of the United States regarding membership of Southern Cyprus to the EU before a solution on the island,'' Gurel said, ''just like us, the United States has the tendency not to link Turkey's EU membership process and efforts to find a solution to Cyprus question. In fact, we are pleased to feel this tendency in the EU side during our latest contacts. However, in case the EU continues its wrongful steps and accept the Greek Cypriot side to as a member to the EU, then it would take an extremely wrong step. Cyprus's division will become definite. The U.S. side is aware of this.''
When a reporter said, ''Turkey carries out the command of ISAF currently. This will end after sometime. Is the extension of the command in question,'' Gurel said, ''before being the leader country of ISAF, we both participated in efforts to provide security in Afghanistan and directly contributed to the efforts regarding social and economic development of this country. Our contribution to Afghanistan is not only connected with ISAF's leadership. However, this leadership is of course limited with time. It will end by the end of this year.''
Gurel said, ''command of ISAF or its field of authority is limited with Kabul. We will continue to contribute to the efforts of ISAF without any extension in our leadership. However, expansion of ISAF's field of authority will require new cooperation efforts in international arena, more contribution and responsibility. The important thing is to provide institutions which will provide Afghanistan's own security. Extension of time is not in question.''