Gul: Process Of Motion Was The Period In Which Democracy Is Proved In Turkey

BRUSSELS - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that, ''all the European countries know about the issue of motion. They are aware that this issue was evaluated within a democratic process. This was a period when democracy was proved in Turkey.''
Foreign Minister Gul told a news conference that, ''our European friends wanted to know our views about Northern Iraq issue. I have conveyed them that we had taken measures due to our experiences in 1991. We favor Iraq's territorial integrity. We don't have any intentions in Northern Iraq. We are only careful that this region should not be a nest of terrorism by making use of vacuum.''
Speaking about relations with the United States, Gul said, ''we are in coalition with the United States. We make cooperation. We don't have any opposition. We attribute importance to relations with the United States, and we don't want those relations to be damaged. We obviously will not allow this.''
Responding to a question, Gul said, ''we all should see the contribution of Turkish Armed Forces to the democratic process in Turkey''.
On Cyprus issue, Gul recalled that the two sides had opposition to the third Annan Plan, and that, ''doors are not closed totally. We continue to work.'' Gul said Turkey and Greece would convene in level of undersecretaries, and discuss how steps could be taken.
Gul and State Minister Ali Babacan later left for Turkey.
(AY) 21.03.2003