TURKEY IS GUARANTOR OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION AND MOST IMPORTANT FRIEND OF THE IRAQI KURDS

Turkey has been emphasizing in all platforms that Iraq should be disarmed, its territorial integrity should be preserved and a democratic administration providing equal rights to all ethnical elements should be established. The attention has been drawn to the fact that Turkey has neither a secret agenda about the Northern Iraq and nor such an intention as occupying this region and Turkey is the most important friend of the Iraqi Kurds.

In an interview with Germany's leading financial and economic daily newspaper Handelsblatt, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul gave details about the USA's operation against Iraq and Turkey's policy on this issue and responded to the prejudiced and unjust criticisms of the EU's authorities towards Turkey.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated that Turkey had emphasized in all platforms that she was for the preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity and said: "As if we wanted to attack or occupy Iraq! We have no territorial claims. I emphasized that also at the last EU summit. Turkey made great efforts so that the problems are solved by peaceful ways and in the framework of the UN's resolutions." He also drew the attention to the fact that some European political circles were trying to misuse in their domestic political arena the position of Turkey on the Northern Iraq issue.

Abdullah Gul said that the terror caused Turkey 30.000 victims and stressed Turkey's peaceful policy by adding: "In the first Gulf War, 500,000 refugees flooded into Turkey within a single night. Nobody helped us. How many refugees did Germany let in? 10, 20, or 25? And how many refugees did Belgium, France, Holland, Denmark accept then? The EU has no reason to criticize us that way. Its attitude towards us is prejudiced and unfair. Is the EU ready to put up 100,000 refugees from Iraq? In 1991, the entire Union did not even take in 150.000 refugees. There were many Workers' Party of Kurdistan [PKK] terrorists among 500.000 refugees that came to Turkey. Since then we have had 30,000 victims of terror. We do not want to go through that experience again. That is why we prepared tents for 600,000 people in a 20 km strip. If necessary, we will also send our troops into the area for a limited period of time in order to prevent the flow of refugees and struggle against the terrorism".

When the reporter said him that there were Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq even now, Gul responded him: "No, no, these are only of a symbolic nature. You cannot describe that as military presence."
Gul addressed also to the international public opinion and Kurds living in Iraq and said: "Who else but we could guarantee the security of the Kurdish opposition in northern Iraq? After all, we are closely cooperating with them. We regard that as necessary, and I believe we have a right to do so. Ask Mr. Barzani on what passport he is traveling through the world. After all, we protected the Iraqi Kurds in the past 10 years from all kind of risks, especially the terror. Turkey has been their gateway to the world. Moreover, they are part of our family. We have the same values; we share the same tradition. That is why we protect them". Gul, clearly revealed the friendly attitude of Turkey towards KDP and PUK and warned Barzani and Talabani not to be deceived.

Gul also stated: "the USA and Turkey are allies, we have cooperated for more than 50 years. Now too, albeit only to a limited degree, we have been cooperating. Turkey is a democracy, which you have to respect. Well, there have been disappointments on both sides. Nevertheless, Turkey will remain the most important country in the region for the United States. We are the only Islamic democracy in this region. And Turkey is the most important guarantor of peace and stability in the region". Thus Gul stressed that Turkey was a very important geopolitical and geostrategical "ally" of the USA due to its political and geographical situation.