Erdogan: There Is No Threat Or Any Similar Thing In U.S. President Bush's Message

ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that his telephone talk with U.S. President George W. Bush was held in a friendly atmosphere, adding that ''there is no threat or any similar thing in U.S. President Bush's message.''
When a reporter asked Erdogan if there was any element of threat in Bush's message of congratulation to Erdogan, Prime Minister Erdogan said that ''I read all of these in the newspapers and I am sorry for them. There is no threat or any similar thing in U.S. President Bush's message. First of all, no country in the world can ignore the position and status of Turkey. The telephone talk was held in a friendly atmosphere.''
Stating that Bush asked him some technical questions, Erdogan said that motion and air corridor issues did not come to the agenda during talks. Erdogan said, ''we have earlier told that it requires parliamentary decision. Anything else is out of question. I feel sad when I read some baseless news stories in newspapers. Those harm our national unity. It is wrong.''
(ÖS-EÖ-AÖ) 17.03.2003