KAYSERI - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Tuesday that they were working on meeting multi-dimensionally Turkey's losses in case of a probable operation on Iraq.
Responding to questions of reporters, Cakmakoglu said that Iraqi issue was not a new incident and that Turkey had set its policy towards Iraq.
Cakmakoglu noted, ''there are not any new incidents in Northern Iraq. At least, there is an extension of incidents that started after 1980s and continued so far. In every occasion, Turkey is doing what is necessary related with Iraq and has taken all measures according to conditions.''
When he was reminded about the statements that Iraq would open its doors to United Nations (U.N.) weapons inspectors, Cakmakoglu said, ''Iraq's statement that it will permit weapons inspectors is not sufficient. At least, it has to give this opportunity. If you are in favor of legitimacy, if you say that there are weapons in hands of Saddam regime, these weapons are produced, and as a public opinion has been formed to enable inspection of weapons, then the Iraqi administration which has announced that it is ready for every kind of inspection has to allow inspectors.''
Asked what kind of measures had been taken against inflow of refugees to Turkey due to a probable operation on Iraq, Cakmakoglu said, ''it is known that 500 thousand Iraqi refugees came to our territory, violated security in our borders and meanwhile, assistance was extended to the terrorist organization PKK during the Gulf Crisis. All measures have been taken in order to prevent reoccurrence of such things again after a probable operation on Iraq. We are working on meeting multi-dimensionally our losses in case of a probable operation on Iraq.''