TURKEY’S GUL ON WAR ON TERRORISM, SEPARATISM; ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 14 2006
["FM Gul: ‘One of the Most Important Problems and Threats Is
Separatism’" – AA Headline]
ANKARA (A.A) -14.11.2006 -"One of the most important problems and
threats against Turkey is separatism. The fight against terrorism
is our priority duty," said Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Planning & Budget Commission over the
budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the year 2007, Gul said,
"since we predicted current situation in Iraq, we held the meeting
of neighbouring countries with Iraq. The world should appreciate
Turkey’s initiatives to this end. We attach great importance to Iraq’s
territorial integrity and political unity.
Protection of these are of vital importance for Iraqi people. If Iraq
is separated, it will lead to a new unbelievable dark era."
Recalling that the Iraqi prime minister would pay a visit to Turkey
in the coming days, Gul said that all those issues would be taken up
in detail during the visit.
Referring to the issue of PKK terrorism, Gul said, "one of the most
important problems and threats against Turkey is separatism. Our
government has been doing everything in its power in the fight
against terrorism. Unfortunately, the northern part of Iraq has become
shelter for the terrorist organization. Our government has displayed
a determined attitude against it. We attach great importance to the
United States’ appointing a special envoy. We consider the fight
against terrorism our priority duty. Therefore, we do not need a
coordinator. However, we have appointed Edip Baser to head the Turkish
delegation and to attend the meetings among Turkey, the United States
and Iraq."
Upon a question about presence of several maps separating Turkey,
Gul said, "these are nothing but worthless rags."
Describing the Armenian issue as one of the most important problems
of Turkey in the next decade, Gul said that they would launch all
necessary initiatives.
Later, budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was approved.