ERDOGHAN: IRAQ HAS MORE PRIORITY FOR TURKEY THAN EU TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.01.2007 19:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Currently Iraq has more priority for Turkey than
entry talks with the European Union, stated Turkish prime minister
Rejep Tayyep Erdoghan.

In his words, the international community should take joint efforts
to ensure stability in Iraq. "2007 will be significant for Iraq. The
possible split of this country is fraught with serious consequences
for regional security. Currently some 650 000 people have died in
Iraq. At the same time the coalition forces have lost not more than
5000 men," he stressed.

The head of Turkish government accused the Iraqi authorities of bad
governance. "Today’s administration of Iraq is not better of the
previous. Every day streets of this country become bloody rivers. We
are afraid that Saddam’s execution and spreading the scenes of
his death penalty in the world can result in isolation of Iraq and
the Arabic world, as well as in emerging of tendency to blood feud
among ethnic communities. It is necessary to prevent blood feud,"
Erdoghan said.

In his words, in the North of Iraq, populated with Kurds, where
soon a referendum will be held on the region’s future, rapidly is
changing the demographic structure. "Already today we must warn that
we are not going to remain as exterior observers of changes in Kirkuk
demographic structure. Turkey stands for assuring political unity,
territorial integrity of Iraq, providing stability, non-admission of
clashes on ethnic grounds, establishing control on oil sources by the
central administration, as well as guaranteeing peaceful co-existence
of Sunnis and Shiahs and protection of legal rights of Turkmen. Turkey
will carry out a balanced policy towards Iraq," Erdoghan underlined,
RIA ‘Novosti’ reports.