Gul: Burden Of Possible Iraq War On Turkey Depends On Process And Size Of Such A Negativity

ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that burden of a possible Iraq war on Turkey depended on process and size of such a negativity.
Prime Minister Gul spoke to private television channel TV8 late on Wednesday.
When recalled of the Constitutional Court's ruling about Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Gul said, ''we will discuss it.''
Noting that decisions of the Constitutional Court were decisive, Gul said that they would convene in AK Party Headquarters to take up the issue. ''There is a clear statement by the court.''
When asked about latest situation regarding possible U.S. military operation against Iraq, Gul said that there was not any ''uncomfortable'' situation that could be defined as tension between Turkey and the United States.
''At this point, the thing that appears strange to me is that everybody is talking only about Turkey. Nobody is talking about what is happening in other countries, what is happening in Britain and how British Prime Minister Tony Blair is. Nobody is talking about what is happening in Greece, Crete island, Bulgaria, Hungary. There is an atmosphere as if only Turkey would make war. Actually, this appears strange to me. Except Turkey, the United States has relations with many other countries, too. Undoubtedly, we are a country that has border with Iraq. And every kind of negativity closely concerns Turkey. So for Turkey, there cannot be any natural thing than acting sensitively,'' he said.
When asked how much burden a possible Iraq war might put on Turkey's shoulders, Gul said that first of all, Turkey was exerting efforts for solution of the issue without war.
Stressing that there might be a serious burden, Gul said Turkey estimated this burden due to the Gulf War.
Noting that Gulf War had brought along terrorism to Turkey, Gul said, ''we don't want to suffer these again. Actually, nobody wants to experience these again. At this moment, we cannot set the exact burden of such a thing. This depends of process and size of such a negativity. I hope such a negativity would not happen.''
When asked whether or not the remedy that the United States promised to give would compensate losses of Turkish economy in case of an operation against Iraq, Gul recalled that Turkey was holding talks with the IMF and World Bank. Noting that those talks were not in connection with war, Gul said that talks on negative effects of a possible war were held with the U.S. Treasury Department.
Replying another question, Gul said that State Minister Kursad Tuzmen's visit to Iraq should not be considered a ''visit of support to Saddam Hussein''.
''Our relationship is between the states and peoples,'' Gul said and added that Tuzmen had conveyed his letter to Saddam Hussein in which he had clearly explained possible disasters that neighboring Iraq might face.
Gul said that commercial and trade agreements and contracts with Iraq would continue to be valid in case of a war in Iraq.
Gul stressed that Iraq issue had not been discussed in talks with the IMF and World Bank officials.
When asked what his advice to Turkish people was in case a war would start, Gul said that Turkey was expending efforts to prevent a war.
Stressing that Turkey should prepare itself against every kind of scenario, Gul said, ''what would we do if there would be a migration wave? What would we do if there would be other negative developments? We should get Turkey prepared against these. However, I don't suppose that there would be a situation that directly affect Turkish people if there would be such a war. Everybody says that Turkey would not be a country that joins war and Turkish soldiers would not fight if a war starts. We will only do what we have to do against negative developments.''