Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Oct 25 2007

Turkish minister views Iraq, militant Kurds, Armenian bill, economy

New York, 25 October: Turkish State Minister for Treasury Mehmet
Simsek said Turkey did not want north of Iraq to be used as safe
haven by the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] terrorists.

Speaking at a meeting organized by American-Turkish Society in New
York, the United States, Simsek said Turkey wanted Iraq and the
United States to take action. "Ideally, Turkey does not want to
launch a cross-border operation. However, if things reach that point,
Turkey has the power to launch the operation as it is a matter that
concerns its national interest," he added.

Relations with USA

Simsek said Turkish-US relations were passing through a difficult
period. "I believe that relations between the two countries are
strong enough to cope with this period. Turkey wishes that common
sense would prevail in this period."

Iraq and PKK problem

Simsek said Turkey supported the United States in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and actively joined its efforts to deal with global
terrorism.

"A more democratic, prosperous and stable Iraq is in the best
interests of Turkey. Turkey wants to support Iraq. However, it is
very difficult to comprehend Iraq’s becoming a safe haven for the
terrorists. PKK is in the ‘list of terrorist organizations’ of the
United States and the EU member countries," he said.

Simsek recalled that Israel launched an operation against Lebanon
last year, when two Israeli soldiers were abducted by the terrorists
and the United States supported it.

"We have eight missing soldiers. It is not possible to understand the
view of ‘everybody has the right to do this but Turkey does not’ and
such a view does not suit friendship."

"Turkey desires to see a united, strong, integrated and peaceful
Iraq. Turkey does not have any problem with any segment in Iraq.
However, it is not possible for us to accept the current situation
there. Regional administration in north of Iraq provides safe haven
to terrorists. Turkish parliament approved a motion empowering the
government to order the army to launch a cross border operation," he
said.

Resolution on Armenian allegations

A resolution on Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915
was approved by the US House of Representatives foreign affairs
committee, Simsek said.

"Turkey offered to open its archives and establish a joint committee
on history. However, we have not received any response yet. This is
not fair. The truth must be revealed scientifically," he said.

The US resolution is unacceptable for Turkey, and support to the
resolutions began to wane in the United States.

Constitutional amendments

Simsek also said the Turkish government is eager to amend the
Constitution.

"Constitutional amendment is important and necessary because we need
a more modern constitution. We want to strengthen Turkey’s democratic
and secular qualities," Simsek said.

Simsek added that parliamentary approval of the Constitutional
amendments would not be enough. "We want to receive the approval of
Turkish people in a referendum," he said.

Economic indicators

Simsek also gave information about economic developments in Turkey
during his speech.

"Turkey has recorded a growth rate of 7.4 per cent and become the
17th biggest economy in the world and sixth in Europe. We are
determined to maintain our economic development in the years ahead of
us and we are aware e of the fact that we need to consolidate the
production and raise the quality of production to do that," he said.

"Our government attaches great importance to financial discipline.
Price stability, low inflation rate and floating foreign currency
rate policy are the basic elements of our programme," he added.

Turkish Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz, Treasury Undersecretary
Ibrahim Canakci and the Turkish consul-general in New York, Mehmet
Samsar, were also in attendance at the meeting.

Following the meeting, Simsek paid a visit of courtesy to United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Kemal Dervis.

Later, Simsek and the accompanying delegation left the United States
for Turkey.