ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said late on Friday that parliament made a decision to upgrade some airports not to send troops abroad or to allow in foreign troops.
Speaking at a live program on private Kanal 7 channel, Gul said, ''parliament did not make a decision to send troops abroad or to allow in foreign troops. Even this is a work aiming at forcing peace.''
When the anchorman said, ''there is an atmosphere in Turkey that Turkey will enter war beside the United States under the decision made at parliament on Thursday. We request the most authorized person to make a statement,'' Gul said, ''none of these are right. Turkey is not entering a war. That is, it will not be Turkey's war if a war is to erupt.''
Gul went on saying, ''but, there is an ongoing Iraqi crisis. It seems that a serious point has been reached in this crisis. We have exerted utmost efforts to solve this crisis peacefully. Our efforts for a peaceful solution still continue. In fact, the decision made yesterday is a decision showing that peace has been given a chance again.''
''You know yesterday's voting was made in a closed session. Such decisions had earlier been made in closed sessions. Turkey's security, interests can more openly be debated at closed sessions because these sessions are not only be watched by Turkish citizens but also by everybody,'' said Gul.
Gul added, ''therefore, you have to explain everything clearly at parliament. As the government, you have to explain everything, all the facts, and what you know without hiding anything. Clear explanation of some of such issues can be inappropriate for national interests and national security. Every country has facts which are not openly been debated.''
Result of the closed session was announced and only discussions were closed to the press, Gul stated.
Gul said, ''a decision to upgrade and renovate some of our airports was made. Parliament did not make a decision to send troops abroad or to allow in foreign troops. A decision to allow some foreign personnel and technicians who will not battle to renovate some of our airports was taken. Even this is a work aiming at forcing peace.''
''Parliament has not made a commitment to send Turkish soldiers abroad or to allow in U.S. soldiers or allow their passage to other places via Turkey. The Constitution authorizes parliament to take such decisions. We show something to whole world with this. Look, worst scenarios and developments can occur. You can try hard for a peace till the very end but there can be reasons outside your will. But, the issue is serious. This indicates that everybody should do everything for peace.''
He met with ambassadors of five regional countries he had previously visited after Thursday's parliamentary session and asked them to be in an extraordinary effort for peace, Gul pointed out.
Gul said, ''we can go to Baghdad or Washington if necessary. I sent some of my advisers to these five countries. Turkey still believes that this issue can be solved without any need for a war and we still exert efforts to this end.''
Some measures had to be taken in case of the worst conditions, Gul noted.
Gul stated that they were in an effort to continue relations with the United States in the best way.
When he was reminded about his meeting with Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, Gul said, ''I wanted this issue to remain secret because, it was not for show.''
When he was reminded about the statements of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Gul said, ''I was really sad when I heard about the comparison of Baykal. It did not suit to a statesmen and former foreign minister. I have informed Baykal about every stage and every development. I visited him for three times. I only call it misfortune if they considered our efforts for peace, the joint declaration of statesmen in Istanbul as a show.''
''Was everything a show? Did we exert efforts day and night just for show? Did we meet with statesmen of other countries just for show? Was the Istanbul summit a show? If Iraq said yes to the joint declaration issued in Istanbul, there would not be any war,'' Gul said.
Gul added that they gave messages to Iraq that it should take joint action with the United Nations and exerted utmost efforts for peace and security of the region.