ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Monday that they hoped that military operation against Iraq would end and peace would be settled as soon as possible.
Replying to questions of reporters about the military action against Iraq, Arinc hoped that crises and problems would be solved peacefully if there were any because it was very difficult to endure them.
When he was reminded about the images of the Iraq war in the television channels, Arinc said that he believed that he and millions of people felt sad about those images.
Arinc noted, ''these are very saddening incidents. We hope that operation will and peace will be settled as soon as possible.''
When a reporter said that two bombs fell in the territory of Turkey by mistake and he was against the motion and asked if those incidents proved that he was right, Arinc said, ''everybody who watch the television should comment on this issue. That is, I don't want to comment on the issue if there are people who are pleased with the blood, sorrow, and cries of children, women and innocent people. This should be stopped as soon as possible. Calls for peace is stronger than ever. This disaster should be ended as soon as possible.''
Arinc added, ''I call on especially the U.S. administration and who are with this administration to end this war. Like every citizen and person who wants peace, I also demand this. This saddening incident should be ended as soon as possible.''
Asked what he thought about the statement of Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan who said that the AK Party administration was U.S.-made, Arinc said, ''there is no need to talk about these issues. These are minor issues. What is important is the cruel face of the war. Nothing can justify this. I have stated that the operation launched against Iraq was started unilaterally by the United States, it deprived of U.N. support and international rules were neglected. There is no need to reiterate all these. Nobody can be in favor of war.''
Arinc added, ''this painful show which deprives thousands of people from every right and which disarrays their country should be stopped as soon as possible. There is no reason for continuation of war and for more agonies. Turkish government, parliament and constitutional institutions all think like this and exert efforts in this direction. They are doing their best to prevent Turkey from facing big damage in this incident.''
(BRC-AÖ) 24.03.2003