ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that local groups which entered in Kirkuk, started to depart from the city as a result of the initiatives that were launched. He said groups which entered in Mosul would also leave there. Gul also stated that the liaison teams of the Turkish Armed Forces would be deployed in the region as of 16.00 local time.
Speaking about the summit held in Prime Ministry, Gul said the Iraq issue in general was taken up at the meeting, and Kirkuk and Mosul were discussed in particular.
Gul said, ''some local elements entered in Kirkuk yesterday. Similarly, we see that some local groups entered in Mosul today. Upon this, we have intense contacts with the United States both in civilian and military means. Our contacts still continue. I talked to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Chief of General Staff talked to his interlocutors.''
Gul said, ''as a result of this, the commitments and guarantees given to us were reminded. The United States said all those are valid. And upon their promise, they sent their forces to Kirkuk rapidly. As you know, they got control in Kirkuk and in other regions at the moment.''
Gul said, ''also, again within the scope of the agreement we have reached, liaison teams of the Turkish Armed Forces will be deployed in the region today. They will act together with the United States forces. Our liaison teams will arrive in the region around 16.00 local time. Studies in this respect have been completed.''
Gul said, ''thus, those happening there would be covered very closely and on the spot. Absolutely, our related units are in question there now. As a result of our initiatives, local elements which entered in Kirkuk, started to leave the region. Similarly, those who entered in Mosul, would also leave there.''
Gul said those who entered in Kirkuk yesterday, started to leave the region as of this morning.
GUL: TURKEY GETTING PREPARED TO HELP IRAQIS WHO SUFFERED FROM WAR
ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey was getting prepared to help the Iraqi people who suffered from war, stating that they were searching for ways to bring the children and women, who need medical treatment, to Turkey.
Gul pointed out that humanitarian aid to Iraq was also discussed. He said Turkey was getting prepared to send aid to civilians, women, children, and elderly people who suffered from war.
Gul said, ''the United States, Red Crescent and our other concerned units had meetings in this respect. It is not possible for us to send planes as landing and rising in the airports are not possible. Planes will go there at the moment the airports are opened. We are looking for ways to bring children and women to Turkey who need medical treatment. Preparations were made in this respect.''
Gul said more than 500 trucks and lorries, within the scope of the U.N., started to transport medicine and foodstuff to Iraq via Turkey, and that they have passed the borders.
FM Gul also said security situation in the region was discussed, adding that, ''under the light of the new developments, preparations of troops of Turkish Armed Forces either in northern Iraq or in adjacent region, and reinforcement plans of those troops are also reviewed. Our related ministries, Turkish Armed Forces, and Foreign Ministry closely cover what has been happening in whole of Iraq, in northern Iraq, and in Mosul and Kirkuk.
GUL: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS OUR NOT ALLOWING ANY FAIT ACCOMPLI IN MOSUL AND KIRKUK
Gul said, ''the most important thing is our not allowing any fait accompli in Mosul and Kirkuk. Our determination is known to everyone. Yesterday, Talabani and Barzani said that they were aware of our determination. They reiterated that they would do their utmost. However, as you know, a lack of control is in question. You will see that lack of control in Baghdad is more serious than what is happening in Baghdad. Our sensitivities are certain. We cannot step back from them.''
Responding a question about destruction of deed records of Turkmen in Mosul and Kirkuk, Gul said, ''we have been following all developments. Looting have been experienced in many parts of Iraq.''
When asked whether or not soldiers in northern Iraq would be reinforced, Gul said, ''they have begun withdraw from Kirkuk today. They will withdraw from Mosul as soon as possible. It is correct that we reviewed our existing military presence and plans.''
Responding another question, Gul said, ''we are not a side of this war. Therefore, it is not our duty to control the region or protect order in Baghdad and in northern Iraq. We have some sensitivities. We have been following them. We attribute great importance to the issue of humanitarian aid. We have made some preparations to this end. More than 500 lorries and trucks carrying foodstuff and medicine have passed the border between Turkey and Iraq so far. Airports should be reopened and security should be provided in order to transport injured people to Turkey for medical treatment.''
When asked whether or not his visit to Syria was cancelled, or there was any suggestion from the United States to cancel it, Gul said suggestion of the United States was regardless of question. He said the developments in Mosul and Kirkuk put them into an extraordinary working. Gul said, ''we departed from here early in the morning yesterday. Sensitivity of the issue is clear. I am one of the authorities responsible for covering this. To this end, I had to postpone this visit. However, I will visit there in the coming days. There will be some other meetings which we will have. I will pay this visit soon.''
Responding to a question asking, ''can we understand from your statements that Turkey does not have a plan in entering northern Iraq,'' Gul said, ''we have all kinds of plans if necessary. Everybody knows this. This is not secret. However, we do not have any action at the moment. We are covering the issue. Our forces in northern Iraq, in Turkey and in the border have been reviewed.''
When asked whether or not Turkey would enter northern Iraq, Gul said he hoped there would not be any need for this.
Responding to a question about observer liaison team, Gul said liaison teams were comprised of more than six people. Gul said, ''those are liaison teams. The United States made the proposal. They said your teams should join their forces and they should seen together. They said 'we will inform Turkey altogether in case any need occurs.''
When asked how many people constituted the team, Gul said he could not give information about the number, and reiterated that the teams would be there at 16.00 local time.
Responding to a question whether or not assurances of the United States were valid, Gul said, ''obviously the assurances are in question. We have not given them up. In case those assurances do not work, we will fulfill what is necessary. Yesterday, we told U.S. Secretary of State 'either you do it with your forces, or if your forces are not adequate, we will do them together. In case none of them happens, if necessary, we will do it unilaterally. To this end, we hope there will not be a need for this. We want stability to be installed soon. We want tranquility and we want confusion to end.''
When asked whether or not there was any attack toward Turkmens, and whether or not daily entrances are toward destroying registrations there, Gul said, ''no. Everybody sees that there is confusion. There are confusion in every part of Iraq. However, any acts toward disrupting structure of the region can not be accepted.''
U.S. SIDE HAS PROPOSED THAT LIAISON TEAMS OF TSK SHOULD JOIN U.S. FORCES TO BE DEPLOYED IN THE REGION AND OBSERVE DEVELOPMENTS
The Prime Ministry Office Press Center said on Friday, ''the U.S. side has proposed that liaison teams of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) should join the U.S. forces to be deployed in the region and observe the developments. Turkey has responded this proposal in the affirmative.''
Releasing a written statement, the Prime Ministry Office Press Center recalled that a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss all aspects of the Iraq issue.
Recalling that General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul were in attendance at the meeting, the statement noted that recent developments in northern Iraq and situation especially in Kirkuk and Mosul were taken up at the meeting.
''After some local forces attempted to take Kirkuk under control yesterday against the understanding and compromise, which were reached so far, contacts were held with civilian and military officials of the United States. During the contacts, Turkey's concerns about the region and the cities in question were reiterated. Turkey asked the United States to fulfill its guarantees,'' it said.
''The U.S. side noted that Turkey's concerns were taken into consideration within a full sensitivity, that it would not allow creation of de facto situations under the previous commitments, and that U.S. forces would take the situation under control rapidly,'' it said.
The statement noted, ''the U.S. side has proposed that liaison teams of the TSK should join the U.S. forces to be deployed in the region and observe the developments. Turkey has responded this proposal in the affirmative. Our liaison teams will arrive in the region as of 16.00 local time. We will continue to follow the developments under the light of information to be given by our teams. As a result of our initiatives, armed local forces have begun leaving Kirkuk. A similar request was conveyed to the U.S. side about Mosul. Our contacts with civilian and military authorities of the United States have been continuing.''
''Turkey's humanitarian aid to Iraq was also brought onto agenda during the meeting. Our efforts, which are of great importance for Iraqi people, have been continuing in cooperation with the United Nations organizations. More than 500 lorries and trucks carrying foodstuff and medicine have passed the border between Turkey and Iraq so far,'' it said.
The statement noted, ''the security situation in the region was also taken up at the meeting. Under the light of new developments, preparations of TSK troops and their reinforcement plans both in northern Iraq and adjacent regions were reviewed.''
(UK-AY) 11.04.2003