ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday that there would be observers from Turkish Armed Forces in Mosul and Kirkuk.
Gul told private NTV channel that U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell told him that the Kurdish groups who entered Kirkuk would be taken out.
Immediately after confirming that some small Kurdish groups entered Kirkuk, he spoke to Powell, Gul said.
Gul noted that he reminded Powell the guarantees that the United States gave to Turkey.
Powell reiterated that guarantees were still valid, Gul said.
Gul quoted Powell as saying that 173rd air forces would enter the region.
''We are closely following the developments. There will be observers from the Armed Forces,'' Gul said.
Asked when the military observers would start mission, Gul said, ''we will follow the developments that a de facto situation is not created in the mentioned place.''
When he was reminded that entrance of Kurdish groups in Mosul and Kirkuk was a part of the ''red lines'' announced by Turkey for many times, Gul said that they took up those issues with Powell.
Gul said that the United States stated that it would fulfil its responsibilities.
''Everybody knows our views and we have not abandoned our views. We will cooperate with the United States if necessary. I hope that this mistake will be corrected immediately,'' Gul added.
GUL: NECESSARY MESSAGES WERE SENT TO ALL GROUPS
Gul told private NTV channel that there were not any changes in sensitivities and attitudes of Turkey and stated that they wanted war to end as soon as possible and hoped that peace and stability would come to the region.
Stating that they contacted Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani, Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massaud Barzani, Gul said that there would be a meeting between Turkey and U.S. army chiefs of general staff.
Noting that they attributed great importance to humanitarian aid for Iraqi people, Gul said that planes' landing at airports in Iraq was not possible at the moment due to clashes. He added that when it was possible, injured civilian people would be brought to Turkey and they would have medical treatment.
Gul said that Red Crescent and Red Cross officials came together in Ankara on Wednesday and discussed humanitarian aid.
Touching on importance of financial and political restructuring of Iraq, Gul said that the success of new arrangement would be dependent to the extent they were based on wishes of Iraqi people and to the extent of importance attributed to representation of all groups.
When a reporter said that the transitional period plans of the United States included also an option that interim government of Iraq would be given to a U.S. general, Gul said that if some things were made as soon as possible and the more Iraq's fundamental components were activated, the easier success would be reached. He added that the United Nations should play an active role on that issue.
Gul said, ''winning war was easy after decision on war was taken. We also told this Iraq earlier. We said that those results would appear. We told the United States that situation after the war would be more difficult. We also said that Iraq is a little Middle East, it has all kinds of groups and stated that it is difficult to keep all those groups peacefully.''
Upon a question, Gul said that no Iraqi official sought asylum from Turkey.
When reminded there were criticisms on foreign policy of the government and developments in economy, Gul said that he respected criticisms.
Gul said that there were some people who drew a pessimistic picture regarding economy and stated that Turkish economy did not affected so much.
Gul said, ''I cannot say that everything is very good, but a very extraordinary thing did not happen in economy when looking at extraordinary external conditions.''
Upon a question on Cyprus, Gul said that Turkey's doors were open for good will solutions.
When asked whether a lasting solution would be found in Cyprus within one year, he said that they would work very hard for this.
A GROUP OF IRAQI PEOPLE TRY TO PLUNDER TURKISH EMBASSY IN BAGHDAD
A group of Iraqi people tried to plunder Turkish Embassy in Baghdad, diplomatic sources said on Thursday.
Sources said that the group tried to enter Turkish Embassy, but watchman of the embassy prevented them from plundering it.
(EÖ-AÖ) 10.04.2003