Erdogan: We Did Not Make Any Commitments In Negotiations At The United States

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that they did not make any commitments to the United States during their contacts there and the process showed this clearly.
Erdogan replied questions in a live broadcast on Turkish private tv channel ''Kanal D''.
When recalled his criticisms towards media in his address to nation and asked whether he would like a guided media or a media under the control of ruling power, Erdogan said that they had never approached national press with an authoritarian understanding and they did not approach it like that at the moment as well. He added that they wanted media to have a correct and honest approach, especially in the issues regarding the country without harming national unity and cooperation.
Noting that there was a very wrong news understanding concerning the developments about Iraq, Erdogan said, ''as there are stories against Turkey in foreign press, the untrue stories that overexceed the foreign press in Turkish media naturally upset us.''
Erdogan said that there were claims which said that Turkey was in a dollar bargaining prior to war and he added that such stories and caricatures which were extracted from foreign press hurt not only themselves, but also the whole nation.
Emphasizing that their priorities during the negotiations were political and military issues, Erdogan said, ''the others were developments that did not stem from Turkey, but occurred at the direction of U.S. proposal to compensate Turkey's losses.''
ERDOGAN: EVALUATING STATEMENTS OF OZILHAN AS ULTIMATUM IS WRONG
When recalled that criticisms of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan towards government in Iraq, Cyprus, and the European Union (EU) issues were evaluated as ''ultimatum'', Erdogan said that nobody in Turkey could deliver an ultimatum to the government and he added that the government had come to power as a consequence of democracy and with the preference of majority of people. Noting that he could accept none of the criticisms of Ozilhan positively, Erdogan said, ''shall we say 'we are leaving Cyprus to you' as it is expressed in Annan Plan about Cyprus question.'' He added that ''same people would have criticized us in the future if the plan which was imposed and full of negative elements was accepted now.''
Erdogan said that they would like to take a step in Cyprus issue and added that he discussed this issue with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Erdogan said, ''three guarantor states; Turkey, Greece and Britain, and Northern and Southern Cyprus... We said all these should come together and rapidly start to discuss this issue and let's talk how we should solve it in this meeting. Mr. Gul initiated studies for this. Our hope and intention is that we can solve this issue in most ideal way. And next generations should remember us with gratitude. They should not say 'they sold it like just like that'.''
Noting that there were some people in business circles who were acting with responsibility and asking what they could do, Erdogan said that they were pleased with those approaches and this was national unity, cooperation and solidarity.
ERDOGAN: TELEPHONE CALL OF BUSH REFLECTED INCORRECTLY BY MEDIA
Noting that the rejected second motion was brought into agenda in his talk with Bush on the phone, Erdogan said that he explained Bush that the current atmosphere was negative and it was not possible to submit a third motion in such an atmosphere. He recalled that the United States had demands from Turkey only about air corridor in the following negotiations.
Erdogan said that former government did not present an official view concerning Iraq policy to the current government and added that Presidency, General Staff and the government were carrying on studies to put forth a single and coordinated view. Erdogan said, ''this is an issue concerning our national unity. A single view is necessary.''
When recalled of his remarks in his address to nation saying that Turkey was going through difficult days but this should not cause pessimism and asked whether he had implied a 'change in Turkey's foreign policy', Erdogan said, ''no never, such a thing is out of question.''
Noting that Turkish nation could bring forth its own dynamics, Erdogan said, ''I see that a structure which encourages its own dynamics has been formed. We can overcome the situation through our domestic dynamics.''
When recalled of New York Times' news reports that 'Turkey would announce moratorium to delay payment of domestic debts', Erdogan said, ''at the moment, Turkey's approach towards such a thing is out of question. We are implementing our economic program. Debates of the budget are about to finish, later the letter of intent will be finalized. We have mutually reached agreement on all principles of the letter of intent. So far we haven't even expressed word of moratorium. It is one of the words that we should not express or think about. Actually, it does not suit our understanding of justice and rights.''
''These are the things that are done intentionally. I believe that there is a mentality which wants to corner our country. I want the stock exchange and capital circles not to pay attention to these things. Turkey is powerful, and our government is working. There is not any problem, and we have already taken all necessary measures,'' Erdogan said.
When asked whether issuing a new motion would be asked from Turkey, Erdogan said that this was not in question at the moment and they did not receive such a signal.
Upon a question whether there was such a possibility if war lasts longer than expected, Erdogan said that ''it would not be certain what war would bring and take and it was early to predict this at the moment.'' Emphasizing that they hoped that the war would end as soon as possible, Erdogan said, ''we, as Turkey, want to see our future better and plan it.''
Erdogan recalled that they paid external debt worth of 3.1 billion U.S. dollars and internal debt worth of 17.7 billion dollars in January, February and March and said that they would pay a total of 73.5 billion dollars debt in 2003. He added that they were managing the crisis well and carrying out payments successfully in spite of all those difficulties and negativities and they believed that they would continue to do so.
When asked whether the donation worth of one billion dollars or changing it to a credit worth of 8.5 billion dollars came into agenda suddenly, or it was on the agenda from the beginning, Erdogan said that it was not brought into agenda suddenly and it was an information coming after the voting of last motion. He added that they did not know whether it would be accepted by U.S. Congress, but if it was accepted, they would prefer a credit worth of 8.5 billion dollars. He said they were not positive towards receiving a donation. ''I consider it as a sign of good intention,'' he said.
Upon another question, Erdogan said that Turkey took its place in western league and it was also a bridge between Asia and Europe. He added that Turkey would be a country which would develop friendship continuously, not hostility.
Erdogan said that they wished that war would not get longer and it would end in a short period.
Noting that Turkey did not receive a big blow in tourism due to war, Erdogan said that there was no freeze in reservations at the moment.
When asked whether he did not welcome U.S. economic grants to Turkey as he trusted the income to be obtained from resources, Erdogan said, ''the rational approach towards the rolling over of debts with new borrowings is that you repay your debts in the past by getting into debt with lower interest rate. If it has high interest rate, then you add a new debt burden on your existing debts like happened today. We are expending efforts to overcome this problem. If such a thing is going to come from the United States, then why should we refuse to accept this loan? Such a thing is out of question. And I believe that it has also reasonable conditions. Under these conditions, it is meaningless to refuse to accept this loan. However, if they are lent in return for something, then they offend us.''
When asked about the last situation in northern Iraq, Erdogan recalled that there were some European and other countries saying that Turkey should not enter northern Iraq. Erdogan said that they had been telling from the beginning that Turkey did not have such an aim and everybody knew this. ''Whatever its reason, they want to deviate this from its goal with different interpretations.''
Recalling that British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the United States and NATO officials said that ''Turkey did not have such an intention,'' Erdogan said that the incident started to develop as Turkey said and ''time will also show Turkey is right in this issue.''
Erdogan said that they did not want people die, and wished establishment of peace in Iraq as soon as possible.
(GC-AÖ) 28.03.2003