Erdogan: We Do Not Enter A War

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday about developments in Iraq, ''we do not enter a war. We have been trying to take decisions concerning protection of our security and interests.''
Addressing journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Erdogan recalled that the parliament had authorized the government about military bases and ports.
''Some press organs have been trying to mislead the public opinion by claiming that Turkey would enter the U.S.-led war against Iraq. We do not enter a war. We have been trying to take decisions concerning protection of our security and interests,'' he stressed.
Criticizing Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Erdogan said, ''recent statements of CHP leader Baykal are far away from understanding of responsibility and seriousness. His recent statements were baseless.''
ERDOGAN:''TURKEY CAN'T STAY INDIFFERENT TO A WAR THAT WILL BREAK OUT JUST BESIDE IT''
Erdogan said that ''the parliament gave the authority to the government by 308 votes against 193 votes regarding the use of bases and ports. AK Party and the government carry out a careful study to do the things necessary for the security and interests of the country. The parliament gave the authority to government to allow deployment of U.S. technical and military personnel in Turkey for three months for modernization, development and construction of military bases and ports.''
Erdogan said that these modernization studies were presented in various press organs as if Turkey was entering a war or it was taking a decision of war, adding ''this presentation is made on purpose and it is wrong. We don't enter a war. We only try to take decisions to protect our security and interests regarding the possibility of war that can break out right beside us. The decisions we will take covers authorities that will strengthen our position that increases the possibility of peace in the coming two critical weeks. Our party and the government was the side which launched the greatest efforts for peace. We took the most effective steps for peace since the beginning. Our steps were appreciated by the U.S., Europe and the Islam countries. Iraq's not having active cooperation with U.N. inspectors and the steps taken by some countries without waiting for the U.N. Security Council's resolution have strengthened the possibility of war. In this respect, by being aware of the responsibilities of a statesman, we are resolved to take the necessary steps for the existence of our state and nation.''
''Certainly our ethical priority is peace,'' he said adding ''our political priority is security and interests of Turkey. In this respect we launch common efforts to prevent the war and we will continue to do so. But we must take measures by thinking of the worst choice.''
''There is fire right beside us, we can't only watch it. The first thing we must do is to put it out. If not, our house will also burn, we try to extinguish the fire now, because our house should not burn.''
''At this point everybody has to defend the national interests of Turkey and to refrain from making such a big and critical point an issue of polemics. I invite the entire neighborhood to put the fire out, not to watch it. Yet Mr. Baykal does not act in a responsible manner and he issues baseless statements... He continuously says that we promised U.S. officials to support the war during our visit to the U.S... Mr. Baykal does not say the truth... He should prove these claims... Serious mistakes of Baykal are not only limited to these. Mr. Baykal says that only Turkey announced that it would take part in war... There is no such decision of Turkey's entering a war... Mr. Prime Minister informed Baykal regarding the developments in Iraq for three times, because this is a national issue...''
''Turkey continues its efforts for peace since the beginning, yet our government and if necessary our army will fulfill the requirements of being a powerful state. We'll continue to take steps to make peace rather than war prevail in the region in the next two weeks. We hope Iraq to give up its existing negative stance and start a productive cooperation.''
ERDOGAN:''AK PARTY DEPUTIES WERE FREE DURING TODAY'S VOTING IN PARLIAMENT''
''There were 308 positive votes, it is natural to have different understandings as we didn't take a group decision in our party,'' Erdogan said responding to questions.
''I know that there were 320 AK Party deputies in the parliament today, and 308 of them cast votes for adoption of the motion,'' he said.
''You said efforts for peace would continue for two weeks, why two weeks?'' asked a journalist to Erdogan, who said that ''I say so because the U.N. Security Council will take a resolution on Feb. 15.''
When a journalist reminded Erdogan about the words of Iraqi Ambassador to Ankara Talib Abid Salih who said that Turkey's permitting the use of its bases and ports meant Turkey's entering a war, Erdogan said that ''I don't consider it as a warning, this is his interpretation.''
Erdogan said that the decision taken the same day in the parliament was about Turkey's taking measures.