ANKARA - Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said on Wednesday that the developments in Northern Iraq were under the control of Turkey, stressing that, ''it is not the time for polemics''.
Speaking at a weekly news conference Buluc made evaluation regarded with the recent developments in the region.
''It is not the time for polemics. The interlocutor of my statements is not the Turkish media or public. I am calling out to some authorities beyond them. It is the time to make a calm, foresighted, and realistic evaluation, and within this framework, the time to refrain from taking steps which will push the region into a deeper instability.''
Responding to a question about the statements of Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, Buluc said, ''if the goal in those statements is to 'intimidate', I am unwilling to use the word 'threaten', the Turkish state and public, who contributed to the well-being of Northern Iraqi Kurdish community, this is an extremely inappropriate and irrelevant approach which Northern Iraqi Kurdish community would not adopt and consider it beneficial for their own interests.''
Responding to another question, Buluc said, ''it is not possible for me to share the evaluations that developments in Northern Iraq went out of control of Turkey. Consultations which we carried out with the United States in various levels show us that political targets of both Turkey and the United States coincide on whole of Iraq and with respect to Northern Iraq. Thus, it is not possible to speak about a difference.''
Responding to a question about Ankara's Iraq policy, Buluc said consideration was shown to the issues uttered in Ankara during the talks held with the Iraqi Kurdish leaders, adding that Ankara's official policy was formed under the light of those contacts. Buluc said the assurances given within this framework preserved validity.
Upon a question about recent developments in Northern Iraq, Buluc said, ''there has been an authority gap in Northern Iraq since the Gulf War. If an important number of people have to live together, it is natural to form an organization to meet requirements of these people. Turkey has supported this organization, and done its utmost to facilitate formation of it. The most important thing for Turkey is that temporary characteristics of these arrangements should be maintained. Leaders or representatives of Kurdish community in Northern Iraq did not say anything contrary during their contacts with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. Namely, they have not made any statement about preparations to found a state.''
Responding a question about news stories claiming that Turkey could enter Northern Iraq before the United States, Buluc said, ''we hope that such a development would not happen.''
When asked whether or not Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command General Tommy Franks would come to Turkey, Buluc said that they had not received such an information from the General Staff.
Referring to the letter sent by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to convention of the parliament in Northern Iraq, Buluc said, ''we saw that letter. We think that the letter does not include any wrongful expression. The most important thing is that Northern Iraqi leaders should not misunderstand the matter.''