Gul: Turkey Suffered A Lot

ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that Turkey suffered a lot from the things that happened in the region, adding that ''all of us have to think about our country. The interests of the country and the nation come before everything.''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul went to Saudi Arabia the same day, which is the second leg of the visits he started in the region for peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis.
Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport before his departure, Gul said that they continue their studies about the crisis which further escalated in the region and that he was going to Saudi Arabia and Iran within the scope of his active peace diplomacy for prevention of a military clash.
Recalling that he visited Syria, Egypt and Jordan last week, Gul said that he discussed the issue of resulting the crisis without a war with the leaders of the countries in his contacts. They focused on many alternatives in these contacts and that they exchanged views reciprocally, said Gul and noted that he will meet with King Fahd of Saudia Arabia and Iranian President Khatemi.
''All of our efforts aim to prevent a war in the region and to help in the solution of the problem without a war, because we are the countries of this region. If a war breaks out, we are the countries which will affect the most from it. It is natural for Turkey to launch such efforts as a country which suffered a lot from the things that happened in this region. Turkey was the country which affected the most from the results of many incidents that took place in the world in the past. In this respect the end of this crisis without a war is to the advantage of all of us. All regional countries, but mainly Iraq has the biggest responsibility in this respect for ending of this crisis without a war. The steps that will be taken by Iraq will be a determining factor in prevention of this war,'' Gul said.
Gul said that Iraq's implementing U.N. resolutions in a way which would not cause any hesitations was very important.
Stating that Turkey's attitude and policy on that issue was very clear, Gul said that Turkey was maintaining its policy on that issue in line with a compromise which was reached in the National Security Council (NSC) and it had no vacuum.
Gul stated that Turkey had responsibility to search for opportunities to settle peace in the region before a war and exert efforts to end this crisis and noted that but the government had a duty to prepare Turkey for every kind of scenarios.
''We see true and wrong news stories from time to time. I didn't want to make statements related to those news. But I would like to reiterate that Turkey is maintaining its policy on that issue over an agreement which includes all necessary factors. It was also announced in the NSC,'' Gul noted.
Stating that the United States had some demands from Turkey from time to time, Gul said that those demands were assessed. He added that there was no political will vacuum regarding issues on which agreement was reached.
Gul said, ''we have to think our country. Interests of Turkey and Turkish people are above everything. First of all, we have to think our country. We always do what is necessary. It is clear how policies and views related to that issue were formed.''
Responding to questions of journalists at Esenboga Airport asking if Turkey would have a common study and common declaration with regional countries to persuade the Iraqi leader, Gul said that there is the reciprocal understanding of acting together. Gul said that ''we are in contact with each other and we convey each other the developments. We will decide together how we will act.''
When reminded that he met with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson last night and asked if Pearson brought a message from U.S. President George W. Bush, Gul said that ''there is no such message, but the U.S. Ambassador returned from Washington D.C. recently. Our meeting was very useful, we discussed certain issues. There are certain demands...There are certain issues which go beyond the authority of the government. Parliaments give decisions on these issues in democratic countries. This is also the case in Turkey. The U.S. had certain demands from 53 countries and these issues are being discussed in these countries, yet such an open discussion like the one in Turkey does not take place in any other country. Discussion is certainly the requirement of the open society. We are not uneasy with it, all of us love our country. I don't have any hesitation about it, yet while voicing these discussions, we would like to remind that all of us have to be in a great responsibility.''
Upon another question asking if another meeting will be held regarding the demands of the U.S., Gul said that they continuously hold meetings. Gul stated that certain meetings are held in front of the public opinion and some of them are not held so. Prime Minister Gul said that they continuously hold consultations, and make assessments, adding that ''if in one day an issue has to go to the parliament, it will certainly go to the parliament and discussed there.''
When a reporter said, ''will you wait for a new U.N. resolution?'', Gul stated, ''I don't want to talk about that issue now. Let's follow the developments.''
When recalled that a crowded delegation went to Iraq and asked whether U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson expressed his uneasiness related to that visit, Gul said that official decisions and meetings were clear and added that there were no concerns related to official decisions and meetings.
''Attitude of some press organs appeared strange to me from time to time. The United States is our ally. We will further improve our relations with the United States. We also attribute great importance to that. New bids are held due to U.N. decisions in Baghdad. Not only Turkish people, but Italian, French and German people are also there. But the important thing is the content of the message I have sent,'' Gul noted.
When asked if he thought that public opinion should be more informed about the demands of the United States, Gul said, ''it can be. In fact, I did it once. I can do it again in coming days. I had told press organs that they should confirm the information which they get from the sources.''
When a reporter said, ''military officials said that 'we are waiting for a decision which will be taken by the government'. What do you think about it?'' Gul said that there was no indetermination on that issue.
Stating that political will was clear and it was stated openly in relevant places, Gul added, ''it was stated both verbally and it was given in written statement. We should not allow misunderstandings to occur currently. We should be in a great solidarity to protect our interests and unity.''