ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that his government was extraordinarily expending efforts for solution of the Iraqi issue peacefully.
''Undoubtedly, we are also taking our measures against every kind of scenario. And undoubtedly, our talks with our ally and strategic partner the United States continue in a way to consolidate our bilateral relations. However, war should not be preference of anybody. War is actually not beneficial to anybody. So we have to exhaust all ways to solve Iraq issue peacefully,'' he said.
Prime Minister Gul attended a lunch banquet hosted in his honor by the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) in Istanbul on Thursday.
Speaking at the meeting, Gul said that the tension in Iraq was escalating dangerously, Gul said, ''as a country in this region and an essential element of this region, we could not just watch what was going on or we could not keep silent and moreover, we can't close our eyes or we can't say 'it is not our business' or we can't say 'we are an active neutral' as some countries do. It is an issue which closely concern us also in regard to its impacts. However, it is fact that there was a serious bloodshed in the region in last 10-15 years and all resources including human resources were wasted.''
''Consequently, settlement of stability and peace and creation of mutual friendships in this region are in favor of all of us. And it is beneficial mostly to Turkey because Turkey is a country that has capacity. So our government is expending great efforts for solution of the Iraqi issue without a war. Undoubtedly, we are also taking our measures against every kind of scenario. And undoubtedly, our talks with our ally and strategic partner the United States continue in a way to consolidate our bilateral relations. However, war should not be preference of anybody. War is actually not beneficial to anybody. So we have to exhaust all ways to solve Iraq issue peacefully,'' he said.
Stressing that this responsibility had started to be felt by other countries, Gul said that foreign ministers of five countries in the region would convene in Istanbul later in the day for the first time, adding that some other meetings might be held in coming days under the decisions to be taken in Istanbul the same day.
''Meanwhile, making peace is not an easy thing. As war does not happen instantly, it is possible to make peace within a process. We are expending efforts to exhaust all opportunities. Besides, I want to clearly state here that Iraq can make the biggest contribution to peace,'' Gul said.
Gul stated, ''Iraq has the biggest responsibility on that issue. Unfortunately, Iraqi administration made some mistakes in grave incidents in which blood and tear were shed last 10-15 years. A total of one million people of that region died in the war with Iran. Iraq also suffered a lot due to the incident with Kuwait. To this end, Iraq is the country which will provide the biggest contribution to that issue.''
Stressing that but regional countries would be affected directly by things which might happen, Gul said, ''you know Turkey's sufferings from Gulf War. Turkey is still suffering from economic loss. We have also suffered from political loss of Gulf War. We should exert efforts in order not to face with such incidents again.''