Tuzmen: My Visit To Iraq Reached Its Political And Commercial Goals

BEIJING - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Wednesday that his visit to Iraq had reached its political and commercial goals.
Tuzmen who is accompanying Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to the People's Republic of China, responded questions of journalists about his visit to Iraq.
Noting that his visit to Iraq had reached its political and commercial goals, Tuzmen said that he could not clarify content of the message he had conveyed to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Responding a question on his impressions about President Saddam, Tuzmen told reporters, ''there is a fatalism about what will happen in the future. I was told that President Saddam has not met with anyone for a long time. But, he held a long meeting due to our sincerity.''
Responding a question about criticisms against his meeting with President Saddam, Tuzmen said, ''we have not held any meeting that would harm the national honor of Turkish people. My visit to Iraq was not a second Libya event.''
''I think that President Saddam Hussein planned to expend efforts for peace. According to my point of view, President Saddam is a very mature, understanding and fatalist person. Situation in the region can be changed,'' he added.