Erdogan: I Don't Favor Those Experienced In Afghanistan To Be Experienced In Iraq

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that he did not favor those, which had been experienced in Afghanistan, to be experienced in Iraq. Erdogan said, ''Turkey could not take place in decision process in Afghanistan. Turkey should take place in decision process in Iraq.''
Erdogan responded to the questions in a program on the NTV.
When Erdogan was reminded that the international weapon inspectors presented the report to the U.N., and asked what Turkey's stance was in Iraqi crisis, Erdogan said the problems grew as the time becomes shorter.
Stating that the report was not very much clear and illuminating, Erdogan said he thought hopes for peace have not exhaused yet.
Erdogan said the United States should solve the problem through peaceful means which will be appropriate to its influence, stating that Saddam Hussein's abiding by the U.N. resolution would facilitate the things.
When asked what would be Turkey's next step, Erdogan said several things were carried out with telephone diplomacy at the time being, yet stressed that they wanted to see the definite attitudes regarding the report within this period.
Pointing out that this week was very important, Erdogan said, ''Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and British Prime Minister Blair will have visits to the United States. I believe that some statements will be made together with those visits. There will be a more definite atmosphere and facilities for evalaution. Views of the EU countries are becoming clear. It is important that the decisions that will be taken should have the quality of coalition. The U.N. decision will direct this.''
When recalled that different statements have been made by the United States about Iraqi issue, Erdogan said there were some indefinite views and some secret agreements.
Erdogan said Turkey had an experience in Iraq in 1991, stating that situation of Turkey was not similar to the evaluation of the countries that are not related with the incident. Erdogan said failure to keep the promises given to Turkey made the decision, that would be taken by Turkey, more difficult.
Responding to a question when several things would be brought onto the agenda of the Parliament, Erdogan said an evaluation will be made following statement of the U.S. President Bush this week, the visits that would be paid to the United States, and the National Security Council (NSC) meeting.
Erdogan said AK Party would have its Central Board meeting between February 1 and 2, and that they would draw a road map after those meetings.
Recalling that Turkey was a member of the United Nations, Erdogan said, ''the United Nations can take a decision. Does this decision bind Turkey or not? We should be sincere. Turkey should assess the issue on the basis of its position. The parliament will take the final decision. Can the government take such a decision despite the parliament and its people? If we live in a democratic country, the government cannot take such a decision against will of its people. The government fulfills its duties under the democratic parliamentary system. We should act by taking into consideration these sensitivities. After everything becomes clear, the issue will be brought onto parliamentary agenda.''
Responding a question about news stories claiming that the United States had held contacts with the terrorist organization PKK, Erdogan said, ''U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson denied these news stories.''
Responding another question, Erdogan said, ''what happened in Afghanistan should not happen in Iraq. Turkey did not take place in the decision-making mechanism about Afghanistan. But, Turkey should take part in the decision-making mechanism for Iraq.''
ERDOGAN: GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERSTANDING OF 'SOLVING' NOT 'GIVING AND GETTING RID OF' IN CYPRUS
Erdogan said that the Cyprus problem was not concerned with the personality of Rauf Denktas. Noting that there was a problem in Cyprus, Erdogan said that ''if Mr. Denktas preferred to talk to us directly rather than through the media, there would be not be a problem today.''
Erdogan said that he didn't only refer to Denktas, but he always referred to 'the two sides' in his statements, adding that ''we didn't tell that 'Annan plan is totally true, and it should be signed', we only said that the plan was negotiable.''
''Today in Turkey there is a government which has affection for all Turkish citizens living in Northern Cyprus. Yet this government is not indexed on personalities,'' Erdogan said.
Upon a question, Erdogan said that the Greek Cypriot side has to take into consideration the proposals of the TRNC, stressing that the problem would continue if the sides regard the insolubility of the problem as the solution.
Erdogan said he didn't share the view that his statements weakened the position of Denktas during the Cyprus negotiations, adding that the thing that mattered was the attitude during the negotiations. Erdogan stressed that the problem could be sorted out by reciprocal sacrifices. ''If the other side tells that 'we are pleased with our position today, we will be admitted soon to EU, so do the things we want from you,' then the Turkish Cypriot side will continue on its own way. We tell this from the beginning. We don't support a submissive attitude. We only want to sit at the negotiation table, we should not escape from that table...''
Noting that he was not informed about the new Annan plan, Erdogan said that there were many problems that needed to be discussed. ''It is not possible for us to give up the guarantorship of Turkey on the island. This is 'sine qua non' for us in a way. Another one is the issue of sovereignty,'' he said.
Erdogan pointed out that the government in Turkey wanted a solution in Cyprus, adding that ''we hope Mr. Denktas to sign an agreement, if there is such an agreement... We know that Mr. Denktas launched efforts for Cyprus cause.'' Erdogan said yet he didn't approve the recent attitude of Mr. Denktas, who was an experienced politician. Upon another question, AK Party leader Erdogan said that they didn't have the opportunity to discuss these issues in details with Denktas due to Denktas's health problems, and that they only talked on the phone. If he has the opportunity, he will talk to Denktas, said Erdogan adding ''I can also meet with all politicians in TRNC. I don't have any reservation about it and I regard the demonstrations organized there as their natural right.''
Referring to the Turkish economy, Erdogan said that he had almost 50 contacts in Davos and he told in these meetings that Turkey would lift all obstacles in front of foreign capital.