Erdogan: We Can Never Condone Foundation Of A State In Northern Iraq

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Monday, ''we can never condone foundation of a state in Northern Iraq. I never give any possibility to such a formation despite Turkey.''
Erdogan responded to questions at a program broadcast on private STAR television channel.
They did not believe that peace process was over, Erdogan said and noted that Prime Minister Abdullah Gul ''put into practice active peace project'' with his tour to the Middle East.
Responding to a question saying, ''the United States has an intense pressure and there is a busy traffic in Ankara. What does the United States want from us'', Erdogan said that there were news in the press saying that three days of time was given to Turkey and noted, ''if three days were given to Turkey, Turkey would give a response within three days.''
Erdogan stated that ''the government did not lose its hope for peace and it was in an effort to ensure peace.''
Turkey was obliged to take measures against every kind of possibility and to be ready for everything, Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted, ''Turkey has taken these measures and will continue to do so.''
Consultations and work on Iraqi issue continued, Erdogan pointed out.
Noting that work of United Nations (U.N.) weapons inspectors were being followed, Erdogan said, ''we have to be hopeful at the moment. It is out of question for us to announce any decision without awaiting the U.N. resolution. We will not lose our hope for a peace till the very end.''
When he was reminded about the news published in a newspaper referring to words of Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Erdogan said, ''we are in favour of Iraq's integrity. We will never condone foundation of a state in Northern Iraq. I don't know if the issue you mention as the statement of our Foreign Minister is correct or not. If he said so, it is his own view. We have not said such a thing so far and it can never be said. It can be his own view, but I don't think it is likely for him to say so.''
When the anchorman said, ''if a de facto situation is created there and another state is founded, it is very clear that this state will not be out of control of the United States,'' Erdogan said, ''those who say that a state is being formed and will be formed have their own statements. They are saying that they are not in such an effort and have such an aim.''
When the anchorman said, ''(we can never tolerate foundation of a state there) may mean (we will intervene). Will Turkey face a very difficult situation in such a case,'' Erdogan said, ''Turkey is a country which is sensitively carrying out its diplomacy towards this issue. We have a very serious state experience. Turkey is not an ordinary country in this respect. It does not only show its experience in diplomacy, but also in foreign affairs and it will continue to do so. I don't think such a formation is likely there despite Turkey.''