Erdogan: We Will Take Our Place In Iraq Market By All Means

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey would take its place in Iraqi market by all means.
Erdogan, who addressed the Assembly meeting of Ankara Chamber of Industry, pointed out that NGO's which constituted the fundamental dynamic of production for a country, and which reflect views, expectations and demands of sectors and society, are very important.
Erdogan described statements of Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen about Iraq and making business of Turkish businessmen in this country, as ''unfortunate''.
Stating that the government dealt with problems of all the sections of the society, Erdogan said the difficulties they found were known by everybody.
Erdogan said Turkey was left face to face with a war which it did not want to erupt, noting that economy of the country was negatively affected by the developments as efforts were underway to heal the wound of economic crisis.
Pointing out that they expected the situation in Iraq to turn to normal soon, Erdogan said Turkey did its best in this respect.
Erdogan also evaluated the statement of Ergezen which appeared in media.
In his statement Ergezen said, ''I don't believe that United States, which bombed children of Iraq and demolished this country for its interests, will make the Turkish companies benefit from rebuilding. You will demolish a country, and you will try to restore that country in front of those people. In fact, I can not digest this.''
Erdogan said he thought the statement of Public Works and Housing minister is an unfortunate one, stating that he called Ergezen on the phone.
Erdogan said, ''this is an emotional statement. This statement only binds himself. This can not be the view of our government. We are the government. There is no place for sensitivity here.''
ERDOGAN: WE ARE THE MOST APPROPRIATE COUNTRY WHICH MAY TAKE PLACE BOTH IN POLITICAL AND PHYSICAL REBUILDING OF IRAQ
Erdogan said, ''we are the only country which has democratic system implementation in the Middle East. We have another advantage, that is we are the only country which carry out Islam and democracy together.''
Erdogan said he believed that Turkey would undertake a very important assignment for rebuilding of Iraq, stating that the cheapest facilities that would be provided in physical rebuilding of Iraq existed in Turkey.
Erdogan said, ''the power and potential pertaining to rebuilding of Iraq exist in Turkey. At the point of transportation, Iskenderun Port has an ideal position. Turkey has an ideal location on transportation.''
Stating that Turkey at the time being has an administration giving confidence, Erdogan said, ''it is our biggest wish to continue confidence atmosphere which was formed with formation of our government.''
(AY) 18.04.2003