Tuzmen: We Do What Is Required By National Interests Of Turkey

GAZIANTEP - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Wednesday that they did what was required by Turkey's national interests, stating that, ''we want to take place in the last railway car of the peace train.''
Tuzmen responded to the questions of reporters in Southeastern Gaziantep province.
Tuzmen stressed that the policy covered by the government regarding possible intervention of the United States to Iraq aimed at preserving interests of Turkey. ''We do what is required by national interests of Turkey,'' he stated.
Tuzmen said, ''Turkey gained a very important time here. And it uses this period for peace. We are exerting efforts for maintenance of peace process. I believe that our efforts will be beneficial. A fire is about to break out near us. Our efforts aim at extinguishing this fire altogether. Turkey was earlier damaged by this fire.''
Tuzmen said, ''we aim at preventing Turkey to suffer such a loss this time. To this end, we are exerting all our efforts and energy to provide peace. We will continue to do so.''
When journalists recalled that the policy covered by Iraq in recent period was softened, Tuzmen said, ''important developments were experienced in the past week. Those developments were not results which we did not expect. We had been expecting those developments. I invite everybody to analyze the incidents calmly.''
Reminding his visit to Iraq and Syria which he had paid with businessmen, Tuzmen said in a commerce memorandum of understanding which they signed with Syria, they mentioned Border Trade Centers in Cilvegozu border gate in Hatay, in Nusaybin border gate in Mardin, in Oncupinar border gate in Kilis, in Akcakale border gate in Sanliurfa, and in Karkamis border gate in Gaziantep.
Tuzmen said, ''unemployment is a problem in the region. Poverty is a problem. We can overcome those problems by increasing trade with our neighbors.''