ANKARA - Iraq's Ambassador in Ankara Talib Abid Saleh said on Wednesday that his country respected Turkish territories, stating that it expected the same attitude from Turkey. He said they wished an agreement not to take place between Turkey and the United States.
Saleh met with Turk-Is Chairman Salih Kilic and Executive Board members.
Speaking after the meeting which was closed to the press, Saleh said at the meeting he gave information about the inspections carried out in Iraq in line with the U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Saleh defended that it was understood after the inspections that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, stating that Iraqi people has responsibility against itself and its neighbors.
Pointing out that they fulfilled the wishes of regional countries, mainly Turkey, Saleh said reason for regional countries and others to act with the United States has been removed. He said the U.S. administration arranges plans of destruction against Iraqi people. He said those who support the plans would have responsibility of moral and conscience, and noted that any fire which the U.S. administration would create, will be effective not only in Iraq but also in the surrounding countries.
Turk-Is Chairman Kilic said they expressed in every platform that they were against war and noted that, ''war means massacre of innocent people. We believe that it would be more beneficial to fight against poverty and hunger in Iraq rather than war.''
Kilic said Iraq's territorial integrity should be preserved, and that new formations in the North should not be allowed.
(AY-AÖ) 26.02.2003