State Minister Tuzmen's Contacts In Baghdad Continue

BAGHDAD - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen who continues contacts in Baghdad, Iraq, met with Iraqi Minister of Irrigation Rasul Abd al-Husayn al-Swadi and Iraqi Oil Minister Samir Abdullaziz Al-Nacim on Saturday.
Iraqi Minister of Irrigation Swadi said that there are historical relations between the two countries, adding there are also neighbourhood relations and religious ties.
Noting that both Turks and Iraqis fought with foreigners in the history, Swadi said that the relations between the peoples of friendly countries should be strengthened.
Swadi said that there are developments in economic relations also by the directive of the Iraqi leadership, adding that these relations should further improve.
Iraqi Minister of Oil Al-Nacim said that they focused on the method of further improving the bilateral relations in the field of oil in the meeting.
When Tuzmen recalled that Al-Nacim was the Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey between 1977-1979, Al-Nacim said that he loved Turkey very much during his two-year in office in Turkey. He stressed that he worked for the relations to further improve those days.
After the meetings, Turkish businessmen working in Iraq explained their difficulties to Iraqi ministers.
Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan asserted on Sunday that the things that are imposed on Turkey will later have negative repercussions on Turkey, claiming that ''Turkey is the side which will be affected the most from this attack.''
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen continued his contacts in Baghdad the same day. Ramadan who received Tuzmen later issued statements and responded to questions of Turkish journalists.
Ramadan said that although the trade volume between the two countries is pleasing, the trade volume will further improve if a working programme is formed, adding they discussed these issues with State Minister Tuzmen.
When a journalist asked a question about the message of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Ramadan said that the letter would be submitted to the Iraqi President. The views in the letter are within the scope of the issues of consultation between the two countries, he said.
When asked how he evaluated the tour of Prime Minister Gul to the Middle East, Ramadan said that Iraq always voiced that Turkey had to give priority to its relations with Arab countries. Certainly Turkey's relations with other countries should not be overshadowed, he said adding that such visits will improve the confidence between Turkey and the Arab countries. ''We hope Turkey to have a broader perspective about this issue,'' he said.
Upon a question asking if Prime Minister Gul voiced a wish to meet with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in his message, Ramadan said that that was not the case.
When asked if the visit of the Turkish trade delegation to Iraq had a special meaning, Ramadan claimed that the threats of the U.S. against Iraq are not new. The threats against Iraq continue for one year, he said adding the trade volume of Iraq with other countries increases despite the threats of the U.S. Stressing that majority of the countries which make trade with Iraq before 1990 continue its cooperation today, Ramadan stressed that the number of delegations coming to Iraq increased significantly.
Turkey continues its economic cooperation with Iraq since 1991, he said adding that ''we want this cooperation to further increase.'' Taha Yasin Ramadan said that this visit will contribute to the cooperation.
Upon another question, Ramadan said that Iraq has never wanted war, claiming that the thing in question today was the possibility of one country's attacking another country.
Noting that all world except the United States and Britain were opposed to that attack, Ramadan said that a response would be given at the highest level to the message of Prime Minister Gul.
When asked how he assessed the United States' demands from Turkey, Ramadan said that no one could say that it was assessed positively and noted that this had a negative effect not only on Iraq, but also on Turkey.
Ramadan said that things which were imposed on Turkey related to a possible operation against Iraq would affect negatively Turkey in the future, stating that since Turkey was a side which would be affected most from that attack.
He stated that if there was an attack against Iraq, Turkey would have losses not only in economic field but also in security and other fields.
Ramadan wanted Turkey to show to the U.S. officials how much Turkey and other regional countries would suffer, if they stage such an operation against Iraq.
Upon a question on claims that Turkey had share in Mousul and Kirkuk oil, Ramadan said that if there was a side which put forth such an issue, this side did not want improvement of relations between Turkey and Iraq and added that the side which put forth such an issue might have bad intentions and served to aim of Zionists and the U.S. people. Ramadan said that Iraq did not want Turkey and Turkish people to be a tool of Zionists and the United States however much the relations between Turkey and the United States were good.
Written message of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to be given to Iraqi President Hussein on Sunday.