Gul: Those Who Came From Outside, Withdrew From Kirkuk

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that Turkey could not endure issues of massacre, stating that, ''commitment of everybody is in question. We think such things will not happen. No such news report, which has been confirmed, have reached to us at the moment.''
Responding to questions of reporters that there were looting in Kirkuk and Mosul, Gul said, ''there is looting everywhere. What is important for us is that there should not be massacre and civil war. This is what we take care of the most. This is very closely covered. As you know, our assigned teams act together with the U.S. army. Thus, we are informed about the developments at the moment. We have preparations. We hope that there will not be a need for any of those. There is no need at the moment for the Turkish army to enter northern Iraq.''
When asked whether or not peshmergas were withdrawing, Gul said, ''those who came to the city from other cities, have withdrawn. There are many ethnical groups in the region including Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen.''
Responding a question about claims saying that Turkmen were massacred, Gul said, ''we have been following all developments. Besides the liaison teams, which were sent to the region yesterday, we have information sources there. We did not receive an information about massacre. I also want to stress that we cannot endure the issue of massacre. We have been assured on these issues earlier. We believe that such things would not happen. Then, everything can get out of control. Everyone is aware of this fact.''
GUL: WE SHOULD PULL OURSELVES TOGETHER NOW, AND LOOK AT FUTURE WITH HOPE
Addressing the general assembly meeting of Tes-Is Union, Abdullah Gul said Turkey was going through difficult days, but that those difficult days were about to end.
Stating that the government was at power for five months, Gul said, they were engaged with a program coming from outside.
Gul said there was a very serious war in the region, and that this war concerned Turkey and the whole world very closely. Gul said the war did not last long, and that everything was about to be re-settled.
Gul said there had been negative expectations two months ago, and that there were statements alleging that economic balances would be upside down, and that Turkey would be worse than Argentina.
Gul said, ''however, those did not happen today as necessary measures are taken in time, and alternative programs are implemented. We should now pull ourselves together and look at future with hope.''
Noting that those difficulties did not appear in the last 4-5 months, and that those came from the past, Gul said, ''we are in an effort to recover Turkish economy.''
Gul said, ''now that we are face to face with our own realities. Those realities are to recover Turkish economy, activate our own sources, stop expenditure, and correct mistake. We can not be in continuos difficulty. Difficulties can not be our fate. We should progress toward a developed and prosperous Turkey. We all should be optimistic.''
(AY-UK) 12.04.2003