ISTANBUL - AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan completed his visit to Turkish Republics and returned to Turkey on Saturday evening.
Speaking to reporters about his contacts at Ataturk Airport, Erdogan said that he visited three sister countries Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan with a delegation of 240 persons, adding that he had pleasing contacts there.
Noting that he had seen a positive approach in three countries about issues of energy, security and cultural and foreign relations, Erdogan said that he was also happy to see the things done by Turkish businessmen in these countries. Erdogan said that Turkey does not have sufficient trade volume with these three countries, adding that ''these visits have been the beginning of the steps that need to be taken to increase this trade volume. We had sincere meetings with the three leaders. I believe that these meetings will constitute a serious basis for the steps that will be taken in the future. As a result of these meetings, promising steps have been taken to further improve relations with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.''
Erdogan said regarding the statements of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok that ''everybody is free to make such kind of criticisms in a democratic society and certainly everybody should be open to all kinds of criticisms against themselves.''
Responding to questions of journalists about Iraqi issue at Ataturk Airport upon his arrival in Turkey, Erdogan said that ''there is a government in Turkey now which is the sign of stability and trust and it takes the steps in resolution. It does not have any undecided attitude.''
Upon a question about his candidacy from Siirt, Erdogan said that ''we must see first if there is any vacancy in the list of deputies before January 20. If there is such vacancy, Higher Board of Election will ask our party for a candidate and our party will present its candidates...We must be patient.''
When asked if he would have contacts about Iraqi issue just like the visits of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Erdogan said that he went to Russia about this issue. Erdogan said, ''my visit to Russia had economic aspect and such an aspect. We held meetings there and explained those meetings to Mr. Prime Minister. Now, Prime Minister will complete his visit to Middle East today and tomorrow. All those visits are significant. Those are expression of that determination. You know that we made this proposal to U.S. President Bush and told him that Bush's persuading those countries will be beneficial for Turkey. Because there should be no problems in front of Turkey which will show that Islam culture and democracy can live together and which will be a model to Islam world. To this end, we said that if there should be a coalition to ensure that, the coalition should also include those countries. We said it clearly.''
When asked how he evaluated criticisms of Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Erdogan said that everyone could make criticisms and added, ''everyone is free to make criticisms with respect to democracy culture. Such kind of criticisms could be made. Of course, everyone should also be open to all kinds of criticisms.''
Upon a question related to the message of State Minister Kursad Tuzmen's visit to Iraq, Erdogan said, ''Tuzmen's visit to Iraq shows that we are continuing to walk on our path. Turkey is in an effort to improve relations with its neighboring countries.''
When asked how Gul's visits would contribute to solution of Iraqi issue, he said that those visits were efforts to settle peace.