BRUSSELS - European Union (EU) said on Tuesday that Turkey assured that it had no intention to launch any military action in Northern Iraq.
European Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen said European Commission President Romano Prodi met the NATO Secretary General George Robertson and permanent representatives of 19 countries which are members of the Alliance this morning.
The spokesman said Turkey's permanent representative to NATO Ahmet Uzumcu also participated in the meeting and assured Prodi that Turkish military forces have no intention to launch any military action apart from prevention of humanitarian catastrophe and for humanitarian purposes.
Kemppinen said Prodi got this net message from the Turkish Ambassador and that they expected Turkey to respect this fully.
When a journalist asked how the commission would control whether or not Turkey entered Northern Iraq, stating that Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Turkish troops were in the region for two days, the Spokesman said they did not have detailed information about the activities in the region. He said they were satisfied over the assurances given by Turkey.
The spokesman said Iraq's territorial integrity and Northern Iraq's stability were important, and noted that Turkey shared the same views with them in this respect. He said they expected Turkey not to launch initiatives which will jeopardize the regional stability.
When asked whether or not Turkey's military action against Northern Iraq would effect Turkey's accession process to the EU, the spokesman said they would not be involved in speculations, and that they were satisfied over the information and assurances given by Turkey.
The spokesman said the message that any military action would negatively effect Turkish-EU relations.
(AY-AÖ) 25.03.2003