ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that Turkey attributed importance to the integrity and political sovereignty of Iraq, stressing that, ''we are exerting intense efforts to prevent eruption of war.''
Gul received Iraqi Turkmen Front Chairman Sanan Aga Kasap.
Speaking at the meeting Gul said Turkmens were one of the fundamental elements of Iraqi people, stressing that they took place in foundation of Iraqi state.
Stating that existence of Turkmens has great importance for relations between Turkey and Iraq, Gul said, ''Turkmens have always been citizens faithful to Iraq. They are also important for improvement of cooperation between Turkey and Iraq. Obviously, Turkey attributes importance to Iraq's integrity and political sovereignty. We are all brothers. We have never forgotten this friendship, and we will never forget it.''
Gul said, ''unfortunately, there are very serious developments recently. We, of course, exert efforts to prevent eruption of war. All of us should do our best to prevent eruption of war. We hope a peaceful result to be obtained.
Prime Minister Gul stressed that, ''we hope people of the Middle East, particularly Iraq, who suffered for years, will reach good days. We hope richness of the region will be spent for future, happiness and richness of the regional people. All of us exert efforts for this.''
Sanan Aga Kasap in his part said three million Turkmens were under big pressure, and that efforts were underway to destroy their cultures, Kasap said they did not want war, yet that war was often mentioned recently. He said Iraqi Turkmens should not be disregarded if such a situation happens, and that they should be taken into consideration in re-structuring.