Erdogan: Turkey Doesn't Have Any Aim To Enter Northern Iraq

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Turkey did not have any aim to enter northern Iraq.
Erdogan and Polish Prime Minister Lezset Miller who was in Turkey on an official visit held a joint press conference.
When a Polish reporter asked with which aim a group of Polish soldiers would have mission in southeastern part of Turkey, Erdogan said, ''Those services are made under the scope of NATO.'' Erdogan said that Polish soldiers who would come to Turkey were experts on chemical substances.
When a reporter said that Kurdish groups were advancing towards Mosul and Kirkuk and asked whether there were some developments occurring against sensitivities of Turkey and whether or not promises which were given earlier were broken, Erdogan said that those issues were taken up clearly during U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Turkey. ''I do not believe that they would not keep their promises. Breaking a promise is out of question. A warning is out of question,'' Erdogan said.
Upon a question regarding developments in northern Iraq, Erdogan said, ''we don't have any aim to enter northern Iraq. It is out of question for Turkey to enter northern Iraq, as long as there is not any problem on territorial integrity of Iraq, as long as there is not any operation to seize Mosul, Kirkuk and oil reserves, as long as there is not any migration movement toward Turkey, as long as terror organizations don't attack our borders and as long as ethnic groups in the region do not have sovereignty over each other.''
ERDOGAN: OUR COMMON VIEW IS THAT WAR SHOULD END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Erdogan said that he and Miller exchanged views on the issue at the meeting and stated that his meeting with Miller was held in a very warm and constructive atmosphere.
Stating that he and Miller confirmed that there was not any problem between the two countries and Turkish-Polish relations were gradually improving at the meeting.
Erdogan said, ''we think that both countries are elements of stability in their region due to their geopolitical locations, and consequently our bilateral relations are very important. In this context, I think that foreign policy targets and priorities of Turkey and Poland are similar to each other.''
''Especially in such a period of time when the foreign policy in the world was as if it was going through a breaking point, we had the same approach especially on Iraq issue. Our common opinion is that the war should end this way or that way as soon as possible. The humanity can no longer endure killing of defenseless children, women and people. Meanwhile, it is not possible to disregard a very serious destruction of cultural assets and environment. We think that a new Iraq will appear as soon as possible with starting of a democratic process. We shared our struggle for peace. We have some concerns because the United Nations (U.N.) failed on its struggle for peace. We believe that the U.N. should review its situation regarding that issue,'' he noted.
Erdogan said that Poland underwent a successful adjustment process after it had become a NATO member in 1990 and it developed its cooperation with Turkey in the field of defense in a constructive way.
They would benefit from experiences of Poland, which was expected to become an EU full member in the following year, Erdogan noted.
Erdogan expressed pleasure with the words of Miller who said that he would support Turkey's EU full membership.
Hoping to further improve economic and commercial relations between the two countries, Erdogan said that the trade volume was currently below the real potential.
Erdogan pointed out that they saw that the private sector could not have sufficient cooperation although all necessary agreements were made and implemented.
They also reviewed steps to be taken in that field, Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted that developing cultural relations between the two countries helped strengthen bilateral relations in other fields.
The cultural cooperation program which was signed the same day would have a concrete contribution to cultural cooperation, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''we also exchanged views about more concrete steps to be taken by Turkish contractors in infrastructural works in Poland and even making joint investments in the third countries. Turkey and Poland are supporting efforts to fight against international terrorism in order to build a world of friends and partners. We have full belief that the agreement on cooperation in organized crime and terrorism which is signed today will serve this aim.''
''Turkey and Poland are two countries which trust each other in every field and try to improve cooperation in this period when they are experiencing not only NATO's but also EU's enlargement process. We discussed the steps we will take in tourism. Our contacts have confirmed our mutual will in this respect,'' Erdogan added.
MILLER: 50-MEMBER EXPERT TEAM FOR FIGHT AGAINST CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO COME TO TURKEY FROM POLAND
Miller said that a 50-member team who were experts in fight against chemical weapons would come to Turkey from Poland within the scope of Article 4 of NATO Treaty.
Upon questions on the framework of the military aid Turkey wanted from Poland, Miller said that a 50-member team would come to Turkey from Poland.
Miller said that he hoped this special team would not need to work in Turkey, adding that the Polish government permitted these soldiers only to work in Turkish territories.
Noting that he was in Ankara upon the invitation of Erdogan, Miller said that ''I congratulate him for his new post and I hope he will reach all of his targets.''
Reminding that such a high ranking visit between Turkey and Poland took place for the first time after 30 years, Miller said that he was also pleased as his visit to Turkey coincided with the 10th anniversary of Turkish-Polish Friendship and Cooperation Agreement.
Miller said that Turkey and Poland were two countries which made cooperation for common interests. He stressed that they also took up economic relations in his meeting with Erdogan, adding that the trade volume between the two countries was 900 million dollars. Miller said Poland focused on measures to balance 300 million dollars of deficit.
Reminding that Poland would join the EU in 2004, Miller said Poland supported EU membership of Turkey and this support would continue.
''We'll continue to support the EU candidacy of Turkey. We are ready to share our experience about the accession process with Turkey. Just like Turkey supports NATO membership of Poland, we support EU membership of Turkey,'' he said.
Miller expressed sorrow over the non-solution of the Iraqi conflict by political and diplomatic ways, adding that they thought the status and power of U.N. in this issue had to be increased.
Miller pointed out that they also took up the issue of strengthening humanitarian aid to Iraq, and he underlined the importance of fight against international terrorism. ''We will support all efforts to end the sources of terrorism,'' he said.
Upon a question, Miller said that the developments in Iraq would not affect the EU's enlargement process, adding that the dialogue within the EU and between EU and the U.S. about this issue had to be strengthened.
Miller and Erdogan also attended the signing ceremony of ''Implementation Programme on Cooperation in Fields of Science, Education and Culture'' and ''Cooperation Agreement in Fight With Organized Crimes and Terrorism'' between the two countries.
(ÖS-AÖ-EÖ-BRC) 07.04.2003